POSSIBLE Voltage Problem After Installing Crash Bar Lights
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 370
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From: White Plains, MD
POSSIBLE Voltage Problem After Installing Crash Bar Lights
I had my Kuryakyn (spelling?) crash bar bullet style lights installed today for added light on the road when riding at night. Lights look awesome!
After getting back on the bike after picking it up from the shop after the install, my Dakota Digital gauge is reading "low voltage". My initial thought was that during the install the guys had the lights on for a while during the install for aiming, etc., so maybe I need to ride her for a while to get the charge back up.
Do you think that's all I need to do, or do you think it's draining too much? It's wired into the headlight wiring. The guys at the shop said it shouldn't be drawing too much extra.
Thoughts?
Much appreciated!
Here's a pic of the lights I had installed:
After getting back on the bike after picking it up from the shop after the install, my Dakota Digital gauge is reading "low voltage". My initial thought was that during the install the guys had the lights on for a while during the install for aiming, etc., so maybe I need to ride her for a while to get the charge back up.
Do you think that's all I need to do, or do you think it's draining too much? It's wired into the headlight wiring. The guys at the shop said it shouldn't be drawing too much extra.
Thoughts?
Much appreciated!
Here's a pic of the lights I had installed:
Last edited by discodave; Aug 10, 2011 at 09:59 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: White Plains, MD
I have no way to test it right now. I loaned my voltage meter to a buddy of mine. When I'm riding the "low voltage" warning goes away. When I'm idling it reappears. Make any sense?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: South West Missouri
More or less ....at idle the stator doesn't put out as much and the voltage will drop some. These must be halogen lights? ....they pull a lot of current, as opposed to the LED type. But ya, you're going to need a meter to investigate further.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
The charging system on pre 2007 Sporties doesn't have many amps to spare. In it's stock, lights on configuration, you have about 8 extra amps to work with. At idle (1000 rpm), the single phase stator is lucky to keep up with the stock electrical load, but usually falls a bit short, leaving the battery in a discharging state when the RPM's are low.
You might try cranking up your idle RPM a bit.
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You might try cranking up your idle RPM a bit.
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Last edited by cHarley; Aug 11, 2011 at 09:38 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 370
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From: White Plains, MD
Hey, thanks for the info guys. I went for a longer ride last night and it seems to be charged just fine now. The low voltage light warning was on initially but after riding for about an hour it went away. I'm betting my battery got a little drained while they were installing the lights since the bike wasn't on.
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