Driving lights, stator output, another data point

[Gearhead]

Mine is an 87 VR but it seems both models are rated for about the same alternator output so I put this in General Tech. I read all the varying opinions about how much extra the system can handle and finally just bought some cheap $20 driving lights with 55W H3 bulbs and installed them. Made some cool little brackets to mount them on the forks by the brakes like you see on some BMW's. I powered them with a relay off the battery. The trigger side of the relay comes off the headlight circuit, before the dimmer switch, and goes thru a toggle switch. Consequently, I can turn the lights on or off with either headlight beam, and they go off with the headlight when starting the engine.

 

After riding this way for a couple weeks, I have a few conclusions.

 

1) I leave them on in the daytime for visibility to others.

 

2) I can't leave them on in traffic at night because they have absolutely no beam control and are blinding to others.

 

3) The relay system works perfectly.

 

4) Extra light is nice.

 

5) Cheap lights have kind of a crude beam pattern. Nicer ones would probably be better.

 

6) The charging system seems fully up to the task of the additional 110W. I've had no battery problems and the volt meter always reads close to 14 volts as long as the engine is above ~2000 rpm.

 

I have no other extra loads on the system. I will soon install grip heaters, which are only a couple amps (24W). Just to keep load down, I think I'll install LED's on the tail and running lights which will save 7W x 4 = 28W. Does anybody have any clue what the ignition system draws?

 

Jeremy

[Stoutman]

Does anybody have any clue what the ignition system draws?

 

Jeremy

 

It won't draw any more than the fuse rating for that circuit.

 

If you need more in your power budget you can buy 35 watt H3 bulbs from

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H3.asp

 

You can replace your 55watt lights with 35watt and they may be better tolerated at night, plus you'll get the extra 40 watts in your power budget.

[Squeeze]

Hi Jeremy,

 

my guess would be about 2.5 Amps Draw for the Ingnition System.

[Orrin]

Sure, if you run out of wattage just shut off the ignition!!!

 

:rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

[Marcarl]

55 watts for driving lights is lots more than what you need, I run 30 watts incandescent and am plenty happy. You also need to keep in mind the height of these things, the lower you hook them on, the brighter they'll be in the face of others and the less useful to you. Hook them higher up on the scoot and they will be pointed down to the road and give you more benefit and less bothersome to others.

[FreezyRider]

I hooked mine up so that the relay was activated by the high-beam circuit. That way they are only on when you have your lights on high-beam. In oncoming traffic, you switch to low beams and the driving lights go off. I also have a master on/off switch that I run the ground wire through. I can totally deactivate the driving lights if I so desire.

 

Joe