Power draw with Motolights

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Nov 2, 2010 | 08:57 PM

HDJIM1158

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 1,614

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From: Toms River, NJ

Power draw with Motolights

Just wondering, should I have any power concerns running my driving lights and 50 watt Motolights on my 09 Ultra. So far I have not noted a power drop on the dash gauge on the highway however I have not been on local streets or stop and go traffic.
Thanks in advance, Be Safe JIM

Nov 3, 2010 | 02:25 AM

HDJIM1158

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 1,614

Likes: 27

From: Toms River, NJ

anyone ???

Nov 3, 2010 | 06:07 AM

TexasRedneck

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From:

It's essentially a function of draw vs output. Runnin' on the road, you'll likely be fine. In town, it could be a whole other issue. Best bet would be to tuck in a digital volt meter, mount it where you can see it, then go ride around town a bit. You can pretty much bet that at rpm's under 2k in stop an' go traffic you're gonna see voltage deficits. One trick to helping is to replace the incadescent stop/running bulbs w/LED's. Was havin' problems w/mine, especially if I had the trailer on - toss on the strobes an' I'd be toast in minutes. Converted the brake an' strobes to LED's, problem solved.

Nov 3, 2010 | 06:30 AM

Crusing

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 530

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From: Texas

In short, I would not think so. At 50 watts with a 13.8 volt output your draw would be about 3.6 amps. The only way to definitively know is to add up total power consumption.

Nov 3, 2010 | 11:42 AM

lionsm13

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Western South Dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDJIM1158

Per chance do you got any pics of your bike with the moto lights and how hard was the install? That was one of the (safety)mods that I am condsidering, just a little pricey, like $300 I thought I saw on their site. It would definately improve one's visibility from the front though I think..as bright as they are..
Thanks..

Nov 3, 2010 | 12:02 PM

HDJIM1158

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 1,614

Likes: 27

From: Toms River, NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionsm13

They costed me about 350. Very easy to install. Get a 12pt 10mm to remove the caliber bolt and replace with their allen head bolt. Wires are one to battery, one to ground and one to the acc connector. Only PITA is running the wire under the tank to the front and u don't have to but I removed the batwing to run the wires, could have done it without.
They are well made and worth the money. I took a 100 mile ride at night and they were great. During the day, you are really seen. From a distance your headlight and running lights become one, with these you get a true 3 light pattern. If you PM me with an email I will send you pictures, I still can post pictures here for some reason. Be Safe JIM

Nov 3, 2010 | 12:19 PM

iclick

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

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From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDJIM1158

Just wondering, should I have any power concerns running my driving lights and 50 watt Motolights on my 09 Ultra.

You should have no problems if you are running them directly from the battery through a relay and a dedicated 15A fuse. Your alternator is rated at 50A, so two 50w Motolights would draw about 7.4A given 13.5V at the battery. I would not try to run them from the lighting circuit like the passing lamps, as that would not likely work given the other lights would be using that same 15A OEM fuse. You could obviously trigger it from the lighting circuit through the relay with the power coming from the battery. That way you could have the low- or high-beams trigger the relay with an in-line switch to allow the option to turn them off if desired.

I had no trouble running auxillary lamps totaling 75W on my old RK with a 32A alternator powered at the battery through a relay.