Electrics

[fzwhat]

Originally posted by rich_in_orlando
I don't think ignition power would need to be added to the chart becasue the calculations are for comparison to lighting coil specs. As I understand it, ignition power comes from a separate set of stator windings and are not part of the electrical power capacity equation. In other words, I don't think the spark would run off of the battery. But tell me what those values are and I'll add them.

Rich-

I don't recall the values, except that the ignition load (particularly) is not trivial. The ignition power is from the battery bus - there are no 'other' stator windings. The ignition load varies directly with RPM.

Jim

[rich_in_orlando]

Looking at the manual, I also need to add fuel pump draw to the equation also. From the manual, maximum current draw for the fuel pump is 1.2 amps. 12 volts x 1.2 amps = 14.4 watts. Subtract that from the numbers and here's what you get:

[rich_in_orlando]

...then I guess there's also the radiator fan and the 3 amp horn (36 watts). Jeez, before you know it, we will have less watts available than the charging system can produce.

[fzwhat]

Originally posted by rich_in_orlando
...then I guess there's also the radiator fan and the 3 amp horn (36 watts). Jeez, before you know it, we will have less watts available than the charging system can produce.

Rich -

I forgot about the fan - you're right.

[bluenjfz1]

Originally posted by fzwhat
Rich -

I forgot about the fan - you're right.

Ok, so this stuff is really important to me right now. Is it possible that the 99watt total Gerbing jacket and glove combo simply is too much for the charging system?

The fact remains is that the battery was reading less than 13v w/o the gear on at all at 5k rpm.

I'm really trying to figure this out!! I don't want the dealer to tell me I'm nutz!

Thanks

[ianisme]

99 watts is about 8 amps at the typical running voltage of the bike. Thats a lot of draw on the system and my guess is that if you hooked up an ammeter, you would see current flowing from the battery when you switched on the heated stuff to make up the deficit in output from the alternator. Bear in mind that Rich's chart shows an ideal setup. Your bike may make more or less power than the specification. (I think you may have to settle for something a little less ambitious.

[Architeuthis]

And don't forget that in traffic it can be a real hassle to keep the engine at 5K not to mention cost fuel wise.

An option that should be considered is a separate battery. A buddy did this with a bike he rode with much more electrical draw than the charging system could ever hope to handle:

http://www.jb0713.com/bikes/smallbikes.htm

He used a solar panel and a relay from the bikes alternator to charge the battery. His biggest draw was at night so during the day the aux batt was getting charged by the solar panel and once the main batt was charged he would switch to the aux batt.

It requires a voltmeter (current would be handy too but voltmeter is the minimum) to monitor conditions but with a little attention you'll always have enough power for the bike and still be able to add lots of bells and whistles.

[bluenjfz1]

Originally posted by ianisme
99 watts is about 8 amps at the typical running voltage of the bike. Thats a lot of draw on the system and my guess is that if you hooked up an ammeter, you would see current flowing from the battery when you switched on the heated stuff to make up the deficit in output from the alternator. Bear in mind that Rich's chart shows an ideal setup. Your bike may make more or less power than the specification. (I think you may have to settle for something a little less ambitious.

This was exactly what I was worried about, but I hear from others here that they use gerbing gear and have no problems like I do. I find it very hard to believe that the FZ1 can't handle just a jacket and gloves.

[YAMADOG]

Hey guys,
the FZ1 is a Jap bike. Hard to make a Beemer out of it.