Add-on Electrical Load

[masterguns]

Next Sunday I head out on a SS1000. Just checked what the temps are forecast to be at the time I headout. Temps will be in the mid-thirties for about the first 4 hours or so. I intend to be wearing a complete set of warming gear; jacket liner, gloves, pants and socks. My question is for those of you experienced, can my FJR handle the additional load for prolonged periods. The only other farkles requiring juice is the J&M CB system, Zumo 550 and a radar detector, which all three combined is small compared to the warming gear. Should I be concerned? Bike is a 2011 FJR with just over 3K.

 

[TomInPA]

A good investment for your bike is a digital volt meter. If you use an Escort 8500 X50 you have one built into that. I ride a 2005 (GenI and have no trouble using a WarmNsafe 90 watt jacket, gloves and auxilliary LED (Clearwater Krista) lights. I never found I needed heated pants...go figure.

Just get a volt meter, and enjoy. Your bike should have no trouble keeping up, and I've ridden in much colder than that. Wear a windproof insulating layer over the electric jacket and you won't even need to turn it up much.

 

[masterguns]

Thanks so much TomIn CA. Failed to mention I do have a Datel VM installed. While running at highway speed with the jacket up on high, the socks up all the way, heated grips on a bit and all the electronic stuff going, the Datel read 13.4. When I turned the heating gear off, read 14.2. I would think the grips pull as much as the pants and the gloves together. Never had heated gear before now, lived in SoCal for many years and didn't need it. Anyway, I plan to run the entire set; no grips. The heated gloves are much better at keeping ones hands warm than the grips. Thanks again.

 

[TomInPA]

For sustained operation, I would target keeping the charging system above 13.6 and preferably 13.8. If you're using a heat troller, that should be no problem. The Gen II bike has a wimpy wire that carries power from the regulator to the positive battery terminal, and if you have a real need for better output, then putting a 10 gauge direct path with inline fuse can fix a lot of problems. As I recall Don (dcarver) wrote up a project on that here KrZy8 Charging Circuit. Skip to page 6 or 7 because those threads get real long, but the solution does appear.

 

[eddie]

You should be fine. I ride with gerbing heated jacket,pants,gloves and socks with no concerns at all. Enjoy the ride.

ed

 

[Fred W]

You are right, Gunny. The grips are wattage hogs compared to the gloves. I find that when I'm running the heated gloves I do not need to use the heated grips, so just leave them off.

I also don't use heated pants. With a pair of (non-cotton) sweatpants under my riding pants I'm good to well below freezing for all day rides.

Will the charging system be up for the additional load for prolonged periods? It depends... Do you consider 4 months a prolonged period?

Have a great ride. :thumbsup: