On a 1200 GS, how many watts can you use on accessories. Such as lights and so-on.
Thanks
Thanks
1200 accessory wattage?
- Thread starter North
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Mouse
Registered user
I don't think anyone except BMW knows the true answer.
But, at a guess, I'd say 200 watts. On my bike I use: driving lamps (110W), heated jackets (approx 25W each?), heated grips (10W each?), GPS (5W ?).
I have had to replace the battery, but the problem was that the battery failed to hold the charge, rather than that the alternator wasn't charging it. I can say this as the battery only failed after 18 months, and I've been using these accessories for many months, if the alternator wasn't keeping up the battery would have been flat within a week.
But, at a guess, I'd say 200 watts. On my bike I use: driving lamps (110W), heated jackets (approx 25W each?), heated grips (10W each?), GPS (5W ?).
I have had to replace the battery, but the problem was that the battery failed to hold the charge, rather than that the alternator wasn't charging it. I can say this as the battery only failed after 18 months, and I've been using these accessories for many months, if the alternator wasn't keeping up the battery would have been flat within a week.
Thanks Mouse.
Mouse
Registered user
In fact, I think it could be measured.
Keep adding electrical load to the bike until the battery voltage drops significantly, that would mean the alternator can no longer cope. I might have to try that some day
Keep adding electrical load to the bike until the battery voltage drops significantly, that would mean the alternator can no longer cope. I might have to try that some day
araspitfire
Registered user
It can be measured, but it's not as simple as that...
People drive differently, and because the alternator puts out it's maximum current at a specific RPM, it doesn't produce enough juice all the time to run some minimum amount of accessories (perhaps not even the heated grips??) at some RPM and below...
So if your use of the bike and accessories involves endless motorway running, you can load quite a lot and never touch the battery...
But if you spend quite a bit of time loping along at a retatively low RPM, then maybe you can't run quite so much current to accessories...
Hooking up recording current meters to the Alternator and the battery, then driving around "like normal" with lights on, heated gear going full on would tell you quite a lot...
It may even tell (me) that I don't need to turn off my heated stuff for the last 15 - 20 minutes before arriving home so that I can give my battery a chance to charge up to maximum and not have the dreaded "dead battery upon attempted start" the next time I want to ride.
Al...
People drive differently, and because the alternator puts out it's maximum current at a specific RPM, it doesn't produce enough juice all the time to run some minimum amount of accessories (perhaps not even the heated grips??) at some RPM and below...
So if your use of the bike and accessories involves endless motorway running, you can load quite a lot and never touch the battery...
But if you spend quite a bit of time loping along at a retatively low RPM, then maybe you can't run quite so much current to accessories...
Hooking up recording current meters to the Alternator and the battery, then driving around "like normal" with lights on, heated gear going full on would tell you quite a lot...
It may even tell (me) that I don't need to turn off my heated stuff for the last 15 - 20 minutes before arriving home so that I can give my battery a chance to charge up to maximum and not have the dreaded "dead battery upon attempted start" the next time I want to ride.
Al...
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