"cp" is candlepower. It's a virtually useless designation. Your tails are probably 10-15W average each, turn signals 5-7W each.
Don't forget that your battery's charging current comes out of that "headroom." At a single amp charging (which is a slow, slow charge rate) you're using 14W. It gets really steep from there. I don't remember the proper resistance of the coils, but if memory serves they need 2-3A of feed current, which is another 30-45W EACH. That's over 200W total there, and that's with a slow charge rate on the battery. Remember too that anything under whatever charging RPM you get you will be drawing all this current from the battery, which means you'll either need a tender every time you park or you'll need to spend a lot of time above 5k RPM (Or whatever your end result speed is for 14V at the battery). As for more light, be careful. Don't put a lot of light on the road right in front of you; it will destroy your night vision and ability to discriminate objects at a distance, without materially increasing your real ability to see. Poor quality headlight reflectors produce a lot of illumination right in front of you, which people will tend to perceive as a good thing. It's not. It's referred to as "near field scatter" and it is a very bad thing (for actual driving safety). I know you already have the light, but my advice for folks who are looking for "more light at night" is always to start with a relay kit and an upgraded lamp. From there invest in a high quality aftermarket reflector (Bosch, Hella, Cibie, etc), or go for broke and buy a purpose built LED headlight (From a big name, like TruckLite or JW Speaker. Yes, they are worth the money). Depending on the condition of your wiring the relay kit alone can show significant improvement, and it's an upgrade that won't be rendered irrelevant even if you go all the way to an LED. -Kurt On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 7:24 AM, 750S <[email protected]> wrote: > I really don't know what to think!!!. My owners manual states that the > generator output is 280w at 5000rpm. The loads listed in there are as > follows: > > Headlight...........................12V - 60/55 watt > Tail/Stop light.....................12V - 3/23 cp No. 1034 > Turn signal light.......Front...12V - 3/23 cp No. 1034 > Rear....12V - 3/23 cp No. 1073 > Instrument light...................12V - 3.4 watt > Neutral indicator light...........12V - 3.4 watt > Turn signal indicator light......12V - 3.4 watt > High beam indicator light......12V - 3.4 watt > Oil pressure warning light 12V - 3.4 watt > > I am not sure what that "cp" designation means for the signal and tail > lights? And it does not list the draw put on the system for firing up the > two coils??? However, it seems to me that there is lots of headroom left > over. > > Hoping to get more input from everyone on here. :) > > > > On Monday, April 21, 2014 2:02:51 AM UTC-2:30, Javier Garcia wrote: > >> Is it 55 W really that much extra load? I run my heated jacket and gloves >> on my 750 with no problems. According to the manufacturer this put a bit >> more than 80 W and 6A. I never had a problem with it. >> >> Javier. >> >> >> On Sun, Apr 20, 2014 at 7:33 PM, Kurt Nolte <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Your current alternator has a capacity of <300W, I can almost guarantee >>> it. That has to supply the coils, the running lights, tail light, brake >>> lights, turn signals, cluster lights, the ignition box, head light and >>> provide charging current to the battery. An extra 55W is going to be a huge >>> extra load on the system. A smaller lamp in the housing might work, but >>> doubling the draw of your headlight isn't going to be nice to your 30 year >>> old electrical system. >>> >>> -Kurt >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Apr 20, 2014 at 8:46 AM, 750S <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> The main reason is to have more light to see for night time driving. >>>> Added visibility as a secondary consideration. I already have this 55w >>>> light and I like the look of it where I had considered mounting it. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:56:52 PM UTC-2:30, Kurt Nolte wrote: >>>> >>>>> An extra 55W is quite a load on the electrical system. What are your >>>>> goals for the new light? Added visibility? More light for you to see with? >>>>> >>>>> Kurt >>>>> On Apr 19, 2014 12:17 PM, "750S" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I am considering adding one extra light to the front of my 85 >>>>>> Nighthawk S to get extra night time illumination. I will probably wire it >>>>>> so it is on only with high beam. It's a rectangular running light that >>>>>> has >>>>>> a 55watt H3 style halogen bulb. I am thinking of mounting it to the >>>>>> fairing >>>>>> just below the existing headlight. What are your thoughts on this? Will >>>>>> the >>>>>> electrical system be adversely affected by the extra load??? In >>>>>> addition I >>>>>> already have a Givi Topcase with the extra brake light installed in it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks in advance for all your ideas and valued opinions, >>>>>> >>>>>> Ross >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
