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Wattage Requirements Bike Operation

3K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  NORTY FLATZ 
#1 ·
Can anyone give an estimate on the wattage requirement for the basic bike operation?
Would be handy to know this figure in calculation of additional equipment that utilises alternator power.
 
#3 ·
Looking at:
- heated grips 60 watts
- heated jacket 80 watts
- heated gloves 30 watts
- aux. lighting 100 watts
- USB and GPS maybe 6 watts
so that's around 275 total
Maybe that is a small town?
My understanding is the alternator on the XCX puts out about 475 watts at max, so that leaves around 200 watts for bike at the best of times.
The XCA puts out 650 watts max from what I've seen mentioned.
 
#4 ·
There are many guys out there running all that stuff, none of it is uncommon. I have all of it but the aux. lights. You'll gain more power with the XCa but keep in mind that its got heated seats so that's going to pull from that extra power if you want to run it all at once.
 
#5 ·
Wow. You're planning on 100 Watts of aux lights?!

LEDs put out 100 lumens per watt and a few thousand lumens is plenty. Rather than throwing tons of light out there, figure out where you need the light and aim your aux lights accordingly.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Thanks for this.

OK, so headlight, battery charging, turn signals intermittently, dash operation in addition to above for the basic function, maybe in the neighborhood of another 125 plus the ignition as above puts it in the 275 wattage range. Does that sound reasonable?
Am I missing anything?
 
#9 ·
All these numbers are just guesses - about the only stock components I can be sure of are the bulbs (stock headlight bulbs draw 55 or 60 Watts each ... the rest I'd have to look up).

Fuel pump, ECU, ignition, etc combined are _probably_ less than the two headlamps on High Beam (total 120W).
 
#10 ·
In summary, estimating the additions with the decrease for LED auxiliary lights to 50 gives approximately 225 watts.

Basic bike operation requirements estimate at 240.

Good to go with the 475 watt alternator output? Provided one is not just not off idle for long periods with everything turned on.

Thanks Guys
 
#14 ·
I have used the heated grips (Oxfords) on medium in addition to heated gloves (Gerbings) at maximum power in the past during sub-freezing temperatures, along with a heated vest (Powerlet) on about 3/4 power and a helmet visor.

The heated grips and gloves do a nice job working in conjunction with one another. With the gloves alone, you are gripping the cold bar grips which the cold eventually seeps through to the palm of your hands. With the heated grips alone, the backs of you hands get cold from the constant cold air flowing across them (even with guards).
 
#15 ·
I'm aware of the issue using heated grips alone and having one frozen side and one hot side on you hands. But, my Gerbings heated gloves keep both sides quite warm. If I turn my gloves up to max, I'll burn my knuckles. However, what ever works for you is what's important. I'd rather use heated grips with bar muffs wearing a thinner glove. To be honest, I usually don't ride below 40ºF.
 
#16 ·
SO a Recap:
- heated grips 60 watts
- heated jacket 80 watts
- heated gloves 30 watts
- aux. lights 50 watts
XCX puts out about 475 watts
The XCA puts out 650 watts

So heated gear draws about three times as much as the aux lights... If you have the gear, it'd be easy to connect it all and see if the alternator can source enough current.
 
#17 ·
The alternator is only rated it's maximum at a certain RPM. Below this RPM level and the charging capacity is less as well. Working an alternator at "maximum capacity" may shorten it's service life. Personally, I wouldn't want to "work" the alternator beyond 85 to 90% of rated capacity.
 
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