How do I work out the maximum load I can put on my CG's (or any bikes) power system?

[matt_rehm_hext]

As the title asks.

Is there a specified max or average output from the bikes generator? and I'm guessing it wouldn't be any more than the amp rating on the battery?

Or am I completely wrong here?

[yorkie_chris]

Or am I completely wrong here?

Yes :)


Amp rating on battery (CCA) is for cranking, alternator provides nowhere near that. It takes several minutes of charging to restore a battery after a few seconds of cranking.

The manual will generally have a wattage of the alternator. Some times it is trial and error, use a voltmeter to see what rpm the bike will happily charge at with whatever load you have on it.

[matt_rehm_hext]

How would I check if it would happily charge at x RPM? put the + and - probes of my meter on the battery whilst holding the throttle open (bearing in mind there's no RPM meter on my CG) and look for what on the readout?

[arenalife]

Everythings on google, they're referring to a cg125 by tthe way:

"If your bike has electric start then the alternator is rated at 155 watts. That could be enough to run extra lights, just add up all the electrical loads. 60 watts for main beam, 5 watts for tail light, a few tiny bulbs in the instuments, maybe 5 0r 10 watts for the ignition, two more 55 watt lights is a bit ambitious. If it hasn't got electric start then the alternator only gives 92 watts, so you've got almost nothing to spare without any extras. LED lights draw very little current, Halfords do a pair of high intensity LEDs (one front, one rear) for £30. I reckon you'd be able to wire them in without relays, too. "