Electrically powered accessories too much for stock system?

Hello,

I was just talking with a local fella that has a 2002 Swing. During our conversation I mentioned to him that I am planning to run my Zumo 660 GPS, J&M handlebar CB, and my heated Gerbings clothing using my 2009 SWing's power system. His comment was that I shouldn't even consider adding any of these accessories on my 2009 SWing as the power system wouldn't handle it. It would damage the bike system, etc. I see several others on here have added electrically powered items but no mention of having any trouble overloading the bikes power system.

I would like some input from those of you that have the above items installed on your Swings. Have you somehow revised the Swing's power system so as not to damage the system? Do you have any problems with overloading the SWing system? Would be great to know more about this before I have these things installed and powered by the SWing's power system.

Thanks for your input!!

Jane

I've been in the silverwing community since 2003.
Piled stuff on my own bike, and listened to stories of people who have piled on all that and more.
Never have I heard anyone say their Silverwing couldn't handle it.
Actually what you mentioned by comparison is a fairly moderate load.

Hiya

I added a relay to the feed of the auxiliary power socket and then added a double socket holder with battery indicator to the side wall in the same lockable compartment. I then ran the heated grips off one and the GPS off the other. No issues to date and with the colder weather the heated grips are on most of the time.
I then added a second Aux socket (weatherproof) to the removable panel below the seat (that hides the cyl head and spark plug access), I wired that direct to the battery with only an inline fuse. That feeds my heated clothing and allows for the connection of a charger if required. Again no issues with power.
Just take care to use the correct fuses and always be aware of the gizmo's that you have switched on.
The battery power indicator on the double socket has been good for that.

Mr Blobby

Output is 441 Watts at 5,000 rpm-----figure out load of each item----older bike, older battery. may be less.
I do not install extra junk on my 2013----just had bad battery experience with mine...using compact pump/compressor.... on trip. Remember these things have no kick starter/ability to be push started. Walking sucks.

Figure out load of electric clothes...then going down road at 5,000 rpm or more battery may not get run down.

I had installed plug in under seat on mine----for Aerostich heated bib===recently took out. Don't want more battery problems/starting problems. Feather Jacket under my Aerostich Darien keeps me warm.

Jump starting SilverWing=real pain as you first have to get to battery. Better to use bike jumper cables and power source car with engine off. and good luck. Walking sucks,pushing bike worse.

I totally agree with John. Check out the values of the gear you wish to use and never ask more from your charging system than it can deliver.

My heated grips are about 36w, the GPS is 10w and the heated Keis jacket is 20w. All are Pulse Width Modulated control circuits and low on power consumption.

Mr Blobby

Thanks for all the replies!! It's so nice to have all of you experienced folks on here to give us advice on just about anything connected to Silverwings! That gives me a starting point to make sure I don't damage anything on my new to me '09 SWing, which does have a new battery in it. I doubt I would ever have all 3 things mentioned in my original post on at the same time, but just in case I did, I wouldn't want to overload and damage the power system.

Jane

you could carry jumper cables in case , you can also get small Li-ion jump starter/power packs

All three of the electrical options you listed are optional in nature. The heated gear is going to take the most power use. If using the other two, perhaps turn off the heated gear? The heated gear is only needed during cold weather........ perhaps don't use the other when using the heated gear?

I have a heated coat, gloves and GPS and I have never had a problem.

Thanks Modernman! That's what I was planning on doing, not use all three at the same time. I contacted the manufacturer of my heated gear -Jacket, pants and gloves - the current draw for those three items, all on high, is 156 watts, the GPS is 28 watts, waiting on a response from J&M on the handlebar CB for the current draw on that. If I need the heated clothing on, could just run the GPS on battery power, and don't really need the CB unless I am riding with a group. Most of my riding is alone, never have a passenger, so I should be ok.

Why don´t you guys wear merino wool plus micro fleece set of underwear. This set has served me just fine without any electrical powered accessories. I wear Rukka Gore-tex jacket with Forcefield shield that helps you to keep warm and pants, too. The weather is mostly quite chill in Finland even in the summer. The set is warm enough to keep me warm enough even when touring in Norway where it rains 180 days/year and even touring as high as the snow line and yes, there´s some snow in the highlands even in the summertime.

Actually Elena's items are the most reliable. Just think if one of your heated items failed while traveling far from home and/or replacement shop.

I've never really bothered with heated gear apart from the usual handlebar grips, just once with heated gloves, and the heated seat on a 650 Burgman.

I do have a set of long sleeve top/ long johns Merino wool underwear, the same combination in Sympatex, and various other synthetic functional underwear, inner shells, and wind shells that I've collected over the years.

Then there's my large collection of Buff neck tubes, all sorts of micro fleeces from lightweight through to furry Yeti fleece, in sweater, jacket, and body warmer. Then there's the lightweight down or Hollofil jackets I can also use, apart from the warm liners that zip into the cold weather riding suits I have.

While I have all these cold weather base and intermediate layers to choose from, it's very easy to suit up, overheat and start perspiring before I've even got on the scooter, which kind of defeats the object of layering up.

The point is to use the set only when you really need it and keep it at least packed when touring long distance and in the highlands. I´m not wearing it just in case the whole summer through although I´m always wearing my Rukka set when riding outside the city.

I forgot to pack the set once when touring in Norway when the weather was almost stormy in the highlands and my shoulders started to feel very cold and tense. That feeling effects to your ability of reacting and steering. The only thing that helped a little was the heated handgrips that kept my blood "running".

Ah, to be as lucky as some of you that can stay warm with wool and other types of clothing. Unfortunately, after searching and purchasing multiple different types of jackets, pants, and gloves, and spending a ton of $$$ in the process, I have never found anything, or combination of things, that could keep me warm no matter how many layers I piled on. I've had the same heated gear since back in the late 80's and early 90's and it has yet to fail me. Even though I have used it when it was cold for way over 300,000 miles (over 150,000 on the Goldwing I sold this spring) and several different bikes. I have a circulatory issue that keeps me from making enough of my own body heat to keep me warm, especially my hands and feet. Getting a severe case of frostbite on my hands and feet when I was a teenager didn't help matters any. So I admire all of you that can stay warm with the unheated clothing that works for you. For me, I'll just have to stay with the heated gear to enjoy the ride.

If you never tried heated gear you don't know the benefits. When your body starts to get cold it cuts circulation to arms, legs etc. If you keep core temps higher this doesn't happen feet hands stay warmer. I feel it makes a huge difference with comfort. To many layers can't lift my leg over tunnel!!!

Right on Mech 1 twa!! But each to his own as they say.

My SWs never had any problem with providing enough power to run my Gerbings jacket liner and gloves even when they both were set for maximum heat. When I got my first Silverwing I took a trip into the mountains east of here in late winter. Temperature for most of the day was 29F. Not much wind or snow but there was a skiff of snow on the road here and there. The gear worked well enough that I had to turn it down a bit to prevent sweating. Gerbings is your friend!
On my current bike I can run the seat(s) and grips at full heat while powering my Gerbings. Heated grips that warm the palm of your hands and heated gloves that warn the back of your hands really is an improvement over just heated grips alone.
One thing to consider is that there is little or now power from the bike's alternator at idle or slow riding. It takes around 3000rpm or more to develop any real steam. So if you are riding slowly or in stop and go traffic in cold weather it's best to turn off any extra electrical loads. I keep the engine running if I use my 12V compressor same as I did with the built in one on the Goldwing. It doesn't take as much power to keep the engine running as it does to start it. If you're running an accessory like a compressor or anything else that takes considerable current it also pays if you keep the engine running above idle. I'd put the bike on the center stand (so the engine can run) and kick up the engine speed as needed with a friction throttle holder.
I've never had to resort to a jump start on a bike I've owned and that's quite a few. I always keep the current demand and supply in mind and take steps to keep the battery happy.

The heated gear allows one to pack less gear.  The heated coat will double as a regular wind breaker and using that in combination with a mesh coat allows one to leave the heavy motorcycle jacket at home.  The mesh coat will provide protection when the weather warms enough that you can just turn off the heated gear.  I no longer pack a Joe Rocket Ballistic motorcycle coat as my mesh coat and my heated gear does all the work.  The heated coat works well as a wind breaker around the camp ground.  

Less outer gear means more room for creature comforts.  

I have been using heated gear since 2011.  My Gerbings don't owe me anything back.  They have paid for themselves in use.  

Now my 1800 Goldwing has heated grips and heated seat, so when on that bike, I rarely break out the heated gear.

To be honest, who really rides that much in winter unless a motorcycle or scooter is their only transport, or they live somewhere where it's sunnier and warmer all year round. Of course the 'riding season' is often mentioned on here and we're now at the time of year when a lot of riders put their toys away.

I'm retired, so riding to work on dark freezing mornings, and at night times wary of black ice is a thing of the past. So are the winter camping rallies and weekends of my biking days. I'll ride through the winter months simply because I always have done. I'm not daft enough to venture out on any maxi scooter in weather conditions where dropping it could damage the Tupperware and possibly myself, even though my Silver Wing is now fitted with all season tyres.

I fully understand the concept of heating clothing, and that a warm body core results in warmer blood to the extremities, and I may have given the impression with all the stuff I listed earlier that I go out there in cold weather bulked up in multiple insulated layers looking like the Michelin man, I can assure you I don't.  

Neither do I want or need heated clothing for the short winter day rides that I go out on, where I'm sometimes more concerned about being dazzled or disorientated by low winter sun, misting visors and specs. Then there's the inconvenience of having to hose down and clean off corrosive road salt and grit after a ride on treated roads. As the days are getting ever shorter, in the depths of winter I'm often doing this in the dark outside my garage. Even carefully drying off the scoot to put away, there's often a fine white frost forming on the seat.

Some areas like the Pacific Northwest have a year long riding season sans a few days or a week now and then. We often have spells of cold, dry weather in winter that makes for nice riding if one is prepared. One advantage is less RVs on the roads. Being caught behind a big motor home on winding two lane roads is definitely a motorcyclist's hell. I prefer summer riding but there are three other seasons to use and this old geezer doesn't have too many summers left to wait for. Lots of bikes out on the roads on Christmas toy rides.

exavid wrote:

Some areas like the Pacific Northwest have a year long riding season sans a few days or a week now and then. We often have spells of cold, dry weather in winter that makes for nice riding if one is prepared. One advantage is less RVs on the roads. Being caught behind a big motor home on winding two lane roads is definitely a motorcyclist's hell. I prefer summer riding but there are three other seasons to use and this old geezer doesn't have too many summers left to wait for. Lots of bikes out on the roads on Christmas toy rides.

that is my thinking too.

the only weather pattern which keeps me off the bike is rain. and in October of this year, we beat our own record for the amount of rain we got this year. I have good rain gear, i just don't like riding in the rain.

today was a nice day. tomorrow is a nice day. i rode today. i will ride tomorrow.

saturday, we see rain again.

Firday looks good here as well but Saturday is supposed to be quite wet. At least wet for Southern Oregon standards. One thing I like about faired motorcycles and scooters is they are a lot easier to clean up after riding in the rain than a V twin cruiser type.

I've contacted the manufacturers of each of the powered items I want to put on my SWing.  Here's the info I received:

Gerbings heated Jacket, pants and gloves all run on high (the power is a pulse so not on steady all the time) - total power draw is 13 amps/156 watts

Zumo 660 - inline fuse is 2 amps, max power draw is 28 watts

J&M handlebar CB Transmit or receive - .33 amps/4 watts

So will I be safe running these items on my SWing?  I would sacrifice the use of the Zumo and CB to keep my heated gear powered when I need it.

Edited to add that I will also have a power block with a relay installed so I don't have these items wired direct to the battery.

I can't see any problem with a GPS/sat nav, it's just as easy to fully charge it from a wall socket, fit it and just use it running off it's internal battery. The battery indicator on the display will show if you're running low, then just plug it in if the power is low. When you don't need it for directions just switch it off until it's needed again. I have a Garmin Zūmo 350 LM and it runs all day without flattening it's battery. Charging it up off the scooter is no different than charging the Interphone F4, and Cardo SRC set ups I use to Bluetooth sat nav instructions to my helmets.

Without the Gerbings heated pants the electrical load would be within reason. That's about the load on my previous Silverwing and it kept the battery up well. I can't say whether the pants would be too much load. A lot depends on the kind of riding you do. In town, stop and go, you might not have enough power to keep the battery up. If you have a good mix of in town slow riding and some highway use then the battery would have a better chance to recharge fully. When you get down to it most riding on errands and such are usually short enough one doesn't need the full electrical gear.

Thanks exavid.  Most of my riding is long distance, highway miles, I am a self admitted interstate junkie.  Sure, I like some of the lesser traveled state highways, but I'll take the interstate when I need to cover a lot of miles.  I do very little in town or just short, stop and go runs. When I get a bike out, I want to put some good miles on it.  I have no problem with 500 to 600 mile days. As you said, if I am riding in town or on short runs I don't need the heated gear anyway.

In Illinois, in the winter time, if the sun is shining and the pavement is dry, you want to ride. Last year I got to ride well into December. On at least two occasions, I rode on days with a high near 39 degrees. I had a heated vest, but no heated grips. This year, I installed heated grips, I plan to ride as long as the pavement is dry and the temp is above freezing!