Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kiwi_Roy on February 14, 2020, 10:43:46 PM
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I have been doing quite a bit of cold weather riding on my new V7iii Special
Riding with heated Gloves 26 Watts and Heated Jacket Liner 77 Watts I have found that the Electrics cannot keep up, its ok if you are riding steady at reasonable speed but in stop and go traffic you soon run the battery down to a point where if you shut off the motor it's not going to crank again.
I tried today with my vest at 50% and gloves 100% Total 74 Watts, even that resulted in a bike that wouldn't crank.
I estimate tha most load you can add is more like about 50 Watts and then you must turn the load off as soon as the engine slows.
This is a little disappointing but at least the bike is relatively easy to bump start.
I will have to try and remember to shut off the heated gear a mile or so before I stop.
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That seems a bit low and disappointing.
I stepped up to a lager bike, Triumph T120: 25 Amps at 1000 RPM (300 Watts) or 46.5 Amps at 3000 RPM (558 Watts)
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I seem to recall that the wet alternator V7s crank out 270 watts. My dry alternator V7 is listed at 350 watts. I have a light to tell me when the system is charging or discharging and at idle it's just barely keeping up with load, if I am not running any heated gear. Bottom line, you need to keep the engine spinning at least 3K to support much of an electrical draw and even that might not be enough for liner and gloves. Adding a volt meter seems prudent.
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I have some battery-powered heated gear (vest & gloves) that are good for at least a couple of hours. The batteries are a little cumbersome, and you have to plan ahead, but the gear can be used for other things than riding.
Rich
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I seem to recall that the wet alternator V7s crank out 270 watts. My dry alternator V7 is listed at 350 watts. I have a light to tell me when the system is charging or discharging and at idle it's just barely keeping up with load, if I am not running any heated gear. Bottom line, you need to keep the engine spinning at least 3K to support much of an electrical draw and even that might not be enough for liner and gloves. Adding a volt meter seems prudent.
That's interesting, I tried finding the specs, Is the V7iii wet then?
Is your light an after market? My Gerbing controller is supposed to warn me when the battery drops below 11V but that's too late and besides I don't see the indicator flashing away so there's little hope for me lol
You can't tell when the old guy is going to turn but you can always tell when he has.
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I've got a lot of winter miles on my 2017 and the 2015 using a gerbing jacket liner with heat troller usually set between 1/2 -1/4 turn. Oxford grips might go to 60% to warm up then down to 30%. But there is a Valentine radar detector and a Garmin GPS always on. I have never noticed a shortage of power to spin it after a gas stop or overnight sit. I do keep it spinning at 4000 +. last year I switched the tail lights to a LED.
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That's interesting, I tried finding the specs, Is the V7iii wet then?
Is your light an after market? My Gerbing controller is supposed to warn me when the battery drops below 11V but that's too late and besides I don't see the indicator flashing away so there's little hope for me lol
Yes, my light is an aftermarket bit and yes your alternator is wet (in an oil bath). I'm not an expert on Gerbing controllers but my Warm & Safe controller is pulsed so it provides pulses of power based on how you have the controller positioned. At 1/2 setting it is sending electrons for half a second or so and then nothing for an equal time. That way nothing is being wasted as would be with a rheostat.
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Yes, my light is an aftermarket bit and yes your alternator is wet (in an oil bath). I'm not an expert on Gerbing controllers but my Warm & Safe controller is pulsed so it provides pulses of power based on how you have the controller positioned. At 1/2 setting it is sending electrons for half a second or so and then nothing for an equal time. That way nothing is being wasted as would be with a rheostat.
Yes I'm an industrial electrician that's the way most heating is controlled on a time proportional basis. The problem is at the moment its so cold anything less than 100% is not warm enough.
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And you are wearing wool next to the skin? Superfine merino is best (doesn't scratch), long T shirt, long johns & socks. Not nearly enough by itself, but it certainly helps, and even stays warm when wet. All that plastic rain gear also helps keep the warmth in. Then again, our "cold" is nothing near what you blokes have to put up with.
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Stick with the Griso when it's cold. That alternator will power a small city.
:grin: