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[Mr. Warlock]

I guess this is where to ask this?

In terms of electrical, watts, amps, volts - whatever, how much crap can we add to the electrical systems on these bikes? Headlights already suck so I don't want to make it worse. I'm no electrical engineer so please keep it plain and simple, LOL.

Thanks!!

[CVOThunder]

You save some juice by converting to LED bulbs.

[spada84]

The electrical engineer agrees:

Switch to LED bulbs and add LOTS of Crap!

On my SEUC I have run all the stock stuff, including heated seats and grips on high, with 2 heated vests, plus heated gloves for the BSR with no issues.

[JCZ]

HID headlight, two complete Gerbing heated outfits (eXtreme Element pants, jacket, gloves, boot insoles), heated seat, GPS w/XM radio......not an issue.

[North Georgia Hawg]

HID headlight, two complete Gerbing heated outfits (eXtreme Element pants, jacket, gloves, boot insoles), heated seat, GPS w/XM radio......not an issue.

I have the Gerbing eXtreme Element setup after reading your recommendation and like it... but a heated seat too, JC? Where the heck do you RIDE, anyway?

[WestCoastRuss]

I have the Gerbing eXtreme Element setup after reading your recommendation and like it... but a heated seat too, JC? Where the heck do you RIDE, anyway?

JC.....Show Ken one of the Hwy 50 pictures!!!!!!   

[JCZ]

I have the Gerbing eXtreme Element setup after reading your recommendation and like it... but a heated seat too, JC? Where the heck do you RIDE, anyway?

Ken......you've got to start watching for my ride reports.  These are all this year! 

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=68748.msg955777#msg955777

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004226#msg1004226

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004226#msg1004226

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004232#msg1004232

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=74330.msg1022596#msg1022596

[Para Bellum]

Where the heck do you RIDE, anyway?:

Anywhere he wants to; weather no obstacle.

[North Georgia Hawg]

Ken......you've got to start watching for my ride reports.  These are all this year! 

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=68748.msg955777#msg955777

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004226#msg1004226

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004226#msg1004226

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=72870.msg1004232#msg1004232

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=74330.msg1022596#msg1022596

Anywhere he wants to; weather no obstacle.

APPARENTLY SO! Beautiful pics, JC!

If it ever SNOWS here again while I'm still alive, I'm putting chains on Buster, going out riding, and taking PICS of my own to post here!

[Twolanerider]

I did the draw measurements (once) but couldn't fine the old notes.  Can offer some anecdotal recollections that might (or might not) be helpful.

On an 05 with its stock 32 amp charging system:  Dual bulb halogen headlight, halogen spotlights, radio, XM, GPS unit,  heated saddle (front riders section only part turned on) and one full set of Gerbing heated clothes.  All that taxed the charging system.  I could run the clothes and the saddle and the radio and the GPS unit if the headlight was on low beam and the spots were.  Like that the charging system kept up.

Later went to HID and LED lights and added a 45 amp rotor to upgrade the charging system.  In that configuration including powering the lights in a Bushtec trailer the charging system ran everything listed above.  It would also run the passenger's section of the heated seat.  Passenger could also wear a heated jacket liner and gloves but that would come close to taxing the charging the system and I'd turn off spotlights or some other accessory.

The 50 amp three phase systems on the 06 and up bikes should be able to handle gear for passenger and rider and whatever stock and accessory lighting you can load up.

[TIF2]

The 50 amp three phase systems on the 06 and up bikes should be able to handle gear for passenger and rider and whatever stock and accessory lighting you can load up.

Correct you are Don. The CVO bikes from '06 (I believe) have the 50 amp generator.
However, the voltage regulator is limited to 45 amps.

As an EE would, the feed current (amperage) to the voltage regulator is higher than max current draw to keep the VR constantly supplied.
The VR then feeds all the systems as needed.

Point is - even though we have a 50 amp potential (generator) there is only 45 amps available (voltage regulator) for use.
I haven't run into current problems yet, but the LED headlight and spots are on my Xmas list

[SteveFLHTK]

I can tell you that on my 2008 (non cvo), I found that with stock headlight, 55W spots, all the regular incandescent bulbs on an Ultra and 2 full heated suits, I'm talking jacket liners, pants, gloves and show liners....the charging system could not keep up.  I turned off the spots, which dropped my draw by 110 Watts, and everything was good.  Oh, add to this a GPS and the radio running full blast.

On my 2010, I have LED spots, LED everything else except for headlight (haven't made that conversion yet) and I don't have a bit of a problem running everything.

[Twolanerider]

Correct you are Don. The CVO bikes from '06 (I believe) have the 50 amp generator.
However, the voltage regulator is limited to 45 amps.

Yeap, the change was 06.  2006 was a one-off for the rotor also.  After that the compensator changed also and the rotor along with it.  So if anyone is wanting to retrofit an older bike to the bigger three phase, either for greater overall output or better low RPM charging, that's the year you want parts for.  Rotor from 06, stator and regulator from 06-08 and the pigtail that goes to the DC side of the regulator.  It's an easy and worthwhile little swap if you're adding TIF2 level of audio or other accessories to a pre-06 bike.

[Mr. Warlock]

Thanks everybody, very helpful!!