extra wattage

[grader]

i picked up 2 spotlites each rated at 3 million candle power. they use a 48 watt bulb. is there 96 watts extra to run them? they will be hooked into a relay off the highbeam. bike is an 08f, thanks.

[adidasguy]

Should be. People often add on heated grips and other heated stuff and I'm sure those use more than 96 watts.

I have Denali fog lights. Not sure of their power consumption, but never had a power problem.

[fetor56]

When running them if your battery goes flat then your drawing too much current that can't be replaced quickly enough.

[ausgs]

that's 8 amps at 12 volts if that helps you to work out how much "spare" you have

[The Buddha]

96 watts I dont think you have that to spare in lower revs. Past 6k or so the bike makes about the same power from the alternator but the ignition system uses more. So in effect, maybe between 3 and 6k you may have the power ... however you almost have to give that power to the battery in the last bit of a ride.
So you would have to turn it off 10 min before you park it I would think, else you wont start the next time you try to start it.
Cool.
Buddha

[MarkB]

Without looking at the service manual, I think the GS puts out about 200 W at cruising RPM.  You're close but probably below the limit there with your +96 W and you'll almost certainly be operating at a loss at idle and stop and go conditions.  Bottom line is it will probably work if you only use the lights when at speed, but you don't have much margin.

[Badot]

My heated grips run ~60 watts and I try to remember to turn them off a mile or so from my destination, otherwise it's noticeably harder to start in the cold.

[grader]

thanks for the replies. they will only be on during highway riding as they will be in the high beam circut. the beam distance for each lite is 480 meters (1500 ft), so that should lite up the swamp donkeys so i dont hit them. 

[cheddle]

I was running twin headlights (both H4/55w car bulbs) and added some heated grips, on the "low" seting I ran my battery dead while crusing... changed healight to a single 55w and now its fine. be warned