Using electrical accessories?

Just a question for those of you out there that use electrical accessories...

I have some Wider heated gear (vest, arm chaps, leg chaps, and gloves), and recently went in on Goinphaster's group buy for heated grips. I would like to install some fog lights, and am considering adding a power source for a cell phone or my ipod, or even a radar detector.

My concern is wether or not the VFR's charging system can handle all of these items. Have any of you had problems using multiple accessories? I've noticed that someone posted a Kuryakyn voltmeter, which would be useful in knowing if the accessories are drawing too much juice. Have any of you beefed up your charging system, and if so how did you do it?

 

When measuring how much "juice" the accessories are drawing, you need to measure watts, not voltage.

1. You need to find out the watts the stock stator produces
2. How many of those watts does the bike use to run?
3. How many watts does each accessory use
4. Don't let (#2 + #3) > #1 and you'll be OK.

 

certainly someone on this list has already calculated 1 & 2, no?

 

If my memory serves me correctly, my cheapo volts/ohm meter does not tell me much. So, are you suggesting that I measure the current drop and voltage to calculate Watts? So in this instance, I need to research the output of the factory stator?... and then just take measurements with each accessory installed, and determine if they demand more than the stator is producing?

I was hoping that someone already knew before I spent any more money.

Thanks for the input though. I may have to do as you've said in the long run anyway.

 

The charging system on an '07 produces 497 watts at 5000 rpm. Stay under 1/4 of that (120 or so) and you should be fine. The wattage of each of your accessories should be listed on the tag or in the owners manual. Add them together when figuring #3. I think the bike would need at least 375w to run the lights, fuel pump and ign.
head light = 55w x 4 bulbs = 220w
brake/tail light = 21/5w
turn signals = 21w front/21w rear
tag light = 8w

 

Sounds good! :thumb: I'll read some tags when I get home.

Thanks

 

Make sure you share the wealth on what you find, please.

 

And just remember that even if your charging system can handle it, you can't leave EVERYTHING running in your tankbag (iPod, cell phone, Autocom + radar detector, gps & high beams) while stuck in traffic for a few hours on the New Jersey turnpike...

 

True, you need to measure the wattage used when the bike is idling. If idling at a long stoplight, you may need to turn off an accessory or two.

When I had two 55 watt driving lights on my old V45 Magna, I would turn them off at stoplights - apparently the draw was too much at idle and they made my headlight go dim.

 

Yep, That 497w at 5000rpm will drop to near zero at idle. Then, you're running on battery. :rip:

 

I wouldn't worry about a cell phone charger; they take very little power.

A volt meter would be useful since with it, you could determine whether the charging system is maintaining the battery at an adequate voltage while all the accessories are in use. It would be good if manufacturers would include a volt meter on the instrument panel to monitor the battery voltage. Then, one could predict a battery failure before it failed to start the engine. Excessive voltage drop while starting would indicate either a failing or partially discharged battery.

It would be good if bike manufacturers would provide a graph to show charging system output vs speed, but few if any do.