Aux lights draining battery

[Bobble]

Check the output from the alternator if that's low there's the problem
At the battery engine running should show about 14 volts good luck
Make mine a guiness

Not had a chance to get a gauge on it yet, but running home last night and back in to work this morning, without the aux lights on everything was fine, which would seem pretty conclusive.

[mancunian]

LED lamps will light up nothing in spotlights, the type you can buy are not high power LEDs like you get in some aux led spots, as they require control gear and heat sinks etc, they are basically daytime lamps.

[peterekins]

Try changing the bulbs for a lower wattage, LED replacment bulbs will not work the same as fillament, only as day lamps, go down to 35watt, but even then with heated grips etc sound like its on the limit..Or get the calculater out and work out how much power your using, don't forget the motor uses electrical power, its also unlikely the alt produces as much power as the manufacturer claims, they become less efficiant with age, its only an electric motor in reverse.

[johnzxr750]

Average charging at tickover should be 1275~1410 but modern fuel injectex bikes can run as high as 15 volts.
check your charging at tickover with lights on and off
Get a load test done on the battery this will let you know the condition of battery not an expensive tool machine mart just under 25quid
Aalso a leakage test but you will need specs from manual for this so easy job disconect earth and run you tester from the battery to earth
Also the manual will have your loads in there and what you have spare to use should be easy enough to work out
Hope this helps j :woohoo:

[slimbo]

its also worth noting that volts does not equate to good charging its the amps that need to be checked ..

example two batterys both being 12 volts but one is capable of 4 amps output the other is putting out 250 amps

plus a battery is used to start an engine via the starter motor and then is charged up ready for the next time..

whilst the engine is running it is redundant until the generator output is exceeded then it will be drained untill it all stops.

[Bobble]

Thanks chaps, am aware of the volts versus amps thing. Not really had a chance to delve too deep yet being at work.
Have ordered some replacement LEDs. Not too bothered if they're more effective as DRLs as improved conspicuity was one reason for fitting the lights.

What I don't quite get is how the standard spec for most kits offer these bikes is 55W yet that seems too much for them, or is mine just old and knackered?