Watts the Magna Uses

[TLRam1]

Someone figured up how many watts the bike uses, anyone remember. Guess I could try to add it up or check my figures against someones.

[TLRam1]

Turn signals are 32CP, guessing that is in the neighborhood of 29 watts or 3CP in running light mode, so not much savings there.

[TLRam1]

From a rough addition the lights in running mode use apprx. 79 watts.

[lragan]

I don't know how much the ignition system draws, do you?

[TLRam1]

I don't know how much the ignition system draws, do you?

No sir and not sure how to measure or find that out, would you.

[hootmon]

IF my understanding is correct, the Stator feeds the Regulator, the Regulator feeds the Battery and the Battery feeds all of the electrical needs of the bike...

IF you had an AMPROBE, couldn't you put it around the positive wire on the battery and get a good idea of what the total draw by the system is??

[lragan]

The only reliable "amp probes" that I am familiar with only work with AC.  There are too many sources of stray static magnetic fields to get a reliable reading with one of these devices, IMO.

To measure the current, one would have to place a small, calibrated resistance in series with the lead and measure the voltage across it.  The most accurate method uses two of these small resistors, one in the circuit and one not.  I have never done it, but have seen it done.  It is a bit of an art form...

[TLRam1]

  It is a bit of an art form...

and you are a bit of an artist!

[roboto65]

Well not sure if this would work used to have one but not any more seems like it could work ?

http://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/ammeters/dc-amp-meter.html

[lragan]

Well not sure if this would work used to have one but not any more seems like it could work ?

http://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/ammeters/dc-amp-meter.html

This should work fine.  Requires disconnecting and inserting the measuring device in series with the lead to be measured.  2% stated accuracy.

In order to sort out how much the bike draws, we would have to disable the regulator/rectifier, or measure its output and the current to/from the battery, or find the right spot in the wiring harness, if it exists, to measure the current drawn separate from the current supplied by the R/R.  When I get a minute, I will peruse the wiring diagram a bit more carefully.

[Smoked U]

W= V x I  (Watts = Voltage x Amperes)

Watt is on second.

[Magnum Magna]

I can come over this week an use my meter to find out.
I am taking all week off.

[TLRam1]

I can come over this week an use my meter to find out.
I am taking all week off.

Thanks Robert, we are leaving Tuesday evening and riding until we get too tired to go further. Our hope is to shuck the heavy coats, we bought heated liners, had the heated gloves and wireless remotes that we can place anywhere.   

[Troystg]

once the engine is started you can disconnect the battery and measure the current from the r/r to the system.  It will be supplying all the power.

Or you could measure the current from the battery with the bike not running.

[hop along]

I know it's a bit late, but IIRC it is either 343 or 373 watts for the 3rd generation, based  on what I added up from the wiring diagram and looking at what was actually In the bike-being sure that the turnsignal bulbs, etc were of the correct rating.
Then I put in LED backlights on the tach/odo, and LED turnsignals in the front (won't work in back unless you add a resistor.  I was worried about the fronts as they are running lights).  Also an LED brakelight.

I run the Synergy heated liner and stock bulb on high without issue.  But adding 110watts worth of auxiliary lights and I have to be careful....
Next is to add an HID light, so I have enough juice for heated handgrips    
Santa was nice to me this year...
Hop Along