You beat me to it Sir Graham
Led lights
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 353
Likes: 32
From: New Brunswick Canada
Light for light LEDs definitely draw less power.
Heres a thought though guys, if you're replacing say a fender tip light for an LED. The original bulb was 9 watts maybe? Correct me if I'm wrong.
The replacement LED with 40 LEDs in it, lets say 20 of them are lit for running light and the other 20 come on with the brakes hypothetically.
If those LEDs are 1/2 watt each that would be 20 watts with all LEDs lit, correct?
Even if they are 1/4 watt each you're still looking at a 10 watt load with all 40 LEDs lit up.
I'm just saying it's possible to change out incandescent to LEDs and actually increase the load, it all depends on what you are putting in as a replacement.
Always need to look at the LED replacement and check the wattage.
Heres a thought though guys, if you're replacing say a fender tip light for an LED. The original bulb was 9 watts maybe? Correct me if I'm wrong.
The replacement LED with 40 LEDs in it, lets say 20 of them are lit for running light and the other 20 come on with the brakes hypothetically.
If those LEDs are 1/2 watt each that would be 20 watts with all LEDs lit, correct?
Even if they are 1/4 watt each you're still looking at a 10 watt load with all 40 LEDs lit up.
I'm just saying it's possible to change out incandescent to LEDs and actually increase the load, it all depends on what you are putting in as a replacement.
Always need to look at the LED replacement and check the wattage.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 100
From: Pasadena TX
Originally Posted by Charlie Anible
Just had my dealer switch out all my lights except for the fendertip lights I was always under the impression the leds draw less power. He is telling me that they draw more watts. I have a 50 amp alt and was wondering if any of you guys have done anything similar. Had them change headlight passing light. Turn signals tail light and put in the new tourpac led light bar. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks charlie
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
You're using two different terms here, watt and amps. Two different things. LED's do operate at a higher wattage if you have enough of them, but do so at a lower amp load. I have led headlight and spots plus a bunch of led accent lighting. It still draws less than the stock headlight alone.
Watts = volts x amps.
With fixed voltage on our bikes, we can't have higher watts AND lower amps!
LEDs use lower amps and hence consume less watts, when compared with conventional radiant element bulbs. Hence your lower draw above.
Light for light LEDs definitely draw less power.
Heres a thought though guys, if you're replacing say a fender tip light for an LED. The original bulb was 9 watts maybe? Correct me if I'm wrong.
The replacement LED with 40 LEDs in it, lets say 20 of them are lit for running light and the other 20 come on with the brakes hypothetically.
If those LEDs are 1/2 watt each that would be 20 watts with all LEDs lit, correct?
Even if they are 1/4 watt each you're still looking at a 10 watt load with all 40 LEDs lit up.
I'm just saying it's possible to change out incandescent to LEDs and actually increase the load, it all depends on what you are putting in as a replacement.
Always need to look at the LED replacement and check the wattage.
Heres a thought though guys, if you're replacing say a fender tip light for an LED. The original bulb was 9 watts maybe? Correct me if I'm wrong.
The replacement LED with 40 LEDs in it, lets say 20 of them are lit for running light and the other 20 come on with the brakes hypothetically.
If those LEDs are 1/2 watt each that would be 20 watts with all LEDs lit, correct?
Even if they are 1/4 watt each you're still looking at a 10 watt load with all 40 LEDs lit up.
I'm just saying it's possible to change out incandescent to LEDs and actually increase the load, it all depends on what you are putting in as a replacement.
Always need to look at the LED replacement and check the wattage.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
By the skin of my teeth, by the look of it Ken! 
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 353
Likes: 32
From: New Brunswick Canada
I agree that LEDs draw far less amps individually, however as I am sure you have all noticed these replacement LEDs we are using have way more than just one LED on them. There are typically many LEDs used to replace one bulb, they all add up folks. The wattage of each individual LED in the circuit adds up to a total, if that total ends up being more than the original incandescent bulb wattage then you are going to draw more current (Amps) This I guarantee you!
My point was changing bulbs out for LEDs will only lower the current or amp draw if the LED has a lower wattage rating than the original bulb did.
I would say most times that will indeed be the case, but it is entirely possible to increase the wattage as well. Need to watch out for this, it's not always as simple as it seems.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,083
Likes: 1,958
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I'm not quite sure if your theory is entirely correct rusty289 (I'll preface that I am wrong at times).
Many LED applications will have the total amperage draw, like 1.8A and not necessarily on an individual LED bulb basis. And most will claim a lower draw than the stock (non-LED) product.
Many LED applications will have the total amperage draw, like 1.8A and not necessarily on an individual LED bulb basis. And most will claim a lower draw than the stock (non-LED) product.
Last edited by RKZen; Mar 14, 2016 at 02:13 PM.