Battery question

[kulwen]

I have a question for the battery experts.

I pull a trailer with my FJR. I have been giving some thought to installing a battery in the trailer to run the electric brakes. To date, I have not used the trailer and my heated grips at the same time. In addition, I have not spent much time pulling the trailer in stop and ago traffic. I am concerned the heated grips and/or stop and go traffic with the electric brakes might be a bit much. I think I am going to install a battery in the trailer for this reason.

I noticed a small compact battery on this post. I am not going to pay the $250 for this battery. However, I am interested in a smaller lighter battery. The battery would be charged from the bike and the battery would power the and electric brakes.

I am considering a device such as this. It may not be this unit, but something like it.

Link

Does anyone suggest a battery, smaller and lighter?

What are the concerns with a smaller lighter battery?

Should I run the trailer lights off this battery also?

Other concerns?

Thank you,

 

[radman]

This battery

is used in a breakaway system, in much larger trailers than yours, and only produces 5 amps, so you don't need a lot.

Breakaway System

Electric brake controllers allow adjustment of braking effort via a rheostat type controller, so you could back it off if traffic use bothered you-but also know that when set right, the brakes hardly come into play in light use. In any case, it's not the battery that will make the difference when brakes are in use-it's the charging system. The battery only comes into play on a running vehicle when the alternator is unable to keep up with demand. I see no advantage whatsoever in a remote battery system other than complexity and cost.

 

[3dogs]

Your FJR may not have enough charging capacity to deal with its normal electrical loads plus another battery/electric brakes and another set of tail/brake lights. You'll need to add up all the loads (amps or watts) and see if the alternator has enough "horsepower" to deal with them.

You could set up a second motorcycle alternator that is driven off one of the tires on the trailer. It could charge the trailer battery/ele brakes etc... This way your engine's power (not the bike's alternator) would be used to provide an energy source for the trailer--just a thought.

 

[RadioHowie]

Your FJR may not have enough charging capacity to deal with its normal electrical loads plus another battery/electric brakes and another set of tail/brake lights. You'll need to add up all the loads (amps or watts) and see if the alternator has enough "horsepower" to deal with them.
You could set up a second motorcycle alternator that is driven off one of the tires on the trailer. It could charge the trailer battery/ele brakes etc... This way your engine's power (not the bike's alternator) would be used to provide an energy source for the trailer--just a thought.

How about a couple of these, like I had on my Schwinn?

 

[Patriot]

Your FJR may not have enough charging capacity to deal with its normal electrical loads plus another battery/electric brakes and another set of tail/brake lights. You'll need to add up all the loads (amps or watts) and see if the alternator has enough "horsepower" to deal with them.
You could set up a second motorcycle alternator that is driven off one of the tires on the trailer. It could charge the trailer battery/ele brakes etc... This way your engine's power (not the bike's alternator) would be used to provide an energy source for the trailer--just a thought.

How about a couple of these, like I had on my Schwinn?

ah shirt...fell of my chair...ROFLMAO !!! :yahoo:

 

[RadioHowie]

Your FJR may not have enough charging capacity to deal with its normal electrical loads plus another battery/electric brakes and another set of tail/brake lights. You'll need to add up all the loads (amps or watts) and see if the alternator has enough "horsepower" to deal with them.
You could set up a second motorcycle alternator that is driven off one of the tires on the trailer. It could charge the trailer battery/ele brakes etc... This way your engine's power (not the bike's alternator) would be used to provide an energy source for the trailer--just a thought.

How about a couple of these, like I had on my Schwinn?

ah shirt...fell of my chair...ROFLMAO !!! :yahoo:

2 of those, at 6vdc each, would charge a small battery just fine. Would need a voltage regulator to combine the voltage and keep from overcharging when you hit triple digits.

Edit: Just had another thought....

Imagine how many dead VW Beetles there must be in the world....

I see a donor project in the works, John T.

(don't forget the VW voltage regulator...it's under the back seat)

 

[kulwen]

Thanks for the info.

I and pretty sure I don't have the skills to install VW parts onto my trailer. I will just wait and see if I have issues. So far, no issues.