tizzy problem

[Gypsy]

yep , have just fiitted a halogen headlight to the trike, now every couple of weeks the battery goes flat, looks like the halogen is now overloading eveything,
is there a way round this or am i gonna have to go back to fitting a candle in the headlight ??? :D

[bill?]

is there a way round this :D

yes there is but I aint got a clue :D

[dracken1]

it won't make any difference if it's halogen or not. a 55 watt standard bulb draws the same amount of power as a 55 watt halogen i.e 55 watts.
if you are drawing a lot of current and doing very short journeys inc stopping and starting. especially this time of year then maybe your charging system is not having the time to properly recharge the battery.
maybe the lighting circuit from the alternator is under performing etc etc.

is this the same vehicle you emailed me about a little while ago?

if not email me again with the exact prob, inc how many lights you have on it and i'll have harry look at it and give his opinion :)

[Doro]

maybe the halogen bulb is a higher powered one?

problem only started since we fitted the new headlight, ie the next day.

could be faulty wiring too I guess.

[Jonnyfp]

You should be able to put higher power bulbs in with no real problem.

Mate of mine had a problem like this...i'll send him the link to this thread.

Could it be Reg/rectifier grief?

[dracken1]

if you've gone from a 55 watt to say a 100 watt halogen.
it should cope ok if the charging system and battery are ok.
this is a partial screen print off my autodata disc on the gt750.

but it probably tells you no more than the manual

http://www.jwmotorcycles.com/gt750.jpg

[Mad Dog]

The higher power draw of a 100watt bulb may be just enough to tip it over the edge, in combination with the extra lighting on a trike ie:- extra marker lights to front and an extra brake/tail light at the rear.

Best way is to fit a 55watt Xenon bulb which gives 30% brighter light than the standard H4 halogen, but only draws the same power. Works very well in Bates Headlamps.

Also change the brake and tail bulbs to LED ones, that will save a lot of power.

Also note that generally motorcycle switchgear directly switches main and dipped beam without a relay. This puts an extra load on the switch contacts, especially when a higher rated bulb is used, this can lead to arcing on the switch contacts and seriously reduce their life span.
Furthermore the cabling may not sustain the extra power for the headlamp at 100watts.

[Gypsy]

wel we do have a side marker on front of each wing and a double tail/brake on each wing too, might try a different bulb first lol , good job we have 2 batteries :D

[Doro]

aw draken what's that ikkle panda in yer tray for?

aw ain't it sweet....


*yeah ok I'm nosy*

:D

[Jonnyfp]

Ah that his virus protection methinks..

Howdya get on with that one Draken?

[titusni]

The higher power draw of a 100watt bulb may be just enough to tip it over the edge, in combination with the extra lighting on a trike ie:- extra marker lights to front and an extra brake/tail light at the rear.

Best way is to fit a 55watt Xenon bulb which gives 30% brighter light than the standard H4 halogen, but only draws the same power. Works very well in Bates Headlamps.

Also change the brake and tail bulbs to LED ones, that will save a lot of power.

Also note that generally motorcycle switchgear directly switches main and dipped beam without a relay. This puts an extra load on the switch contacts, especially when a higher rated bulb is used, this can lead to arcing on the switch contacts and seriously reduce their life span.
Furthermore the cabling may not sustain the extra power for the headlamp at 100watts.

Been there, done that.

Vmax trike which well exceeded the original power drain due to extra 55/60W headlight, 2 x 5W front markers, 3 rears (2 x 21/5W brake/tails and 1 x 23/8W brake/tail/numberplate), alarm/immob.

To date I've done the following:

- replaced the 5W bulbs in speed, gauges, warning lights with LEDs (0.01W or so each).
- replaced the front indicators (2 x 26W) with LED units (0.1W rating each)
- upgraded the stock 25A stator and stock r/r to "high power" ones - "33%" more output says the blurb plus more output at low revs (important for a trike as it gets stuck in traffic jams)
- rewired the twin headlights to battery with good rated cable via relays - switchgear now just triggers relays.
- replaced the 55/60W H4 bulbs with "50% brighter" Xenon ones.

Still to do:

- bought a LED replacement (1.5W from memory) for the 23/8W middle tail/brake unit - fitting once I make a mounting bracket for it.
- awaiting arrival of 2 "LED bulbs" to replace the 5W bulbs in the front sidelights.
- hoping to replace existing Britax tail/brake/indicator units with LED equivalent, something like a Hella Duraled unit.
- maybe replace the front sidelights with a Hella LED marker unit

Pictures at "http://www.oldcolo.com/~bradley/trike/" if you're interested.

[Mad Dog]

I couldn't find the original thread that had this on, or remember who it was.

Well done Titsuni, hope it all works.

[here's_Mike.R]

Try taking your trike to the nearest tyre company and ask them to put a test on the battery. Should be free of charge.
Also you could try disconnecting one of the battery terminals with everything switched OFF and see if you get any sparks. If you do, then you have something draining the power. Check that you didn't trap any wires when you put the headlight back into it's bowl, when you fitted the bulb.
Good luck.