Alternator

[JWilly163]

Has anyone ever contemplated trying to increase alternator output? Just seems to me it might be more beneifical to have more electricity incase one wanted to wear a heated suit or use something else requireing high amperage draw. If anyone out there has researched it, please let me know!! thanks

[DiverRay]

A few of the members here have looked into it. Do a search and you should find a few threads. The BIG problem has been the money needed to increase the output. $350 or more to gain an extra 5 Amps just does NOT make sense for a 30 year old bike.

[FJ111200]

I don't reckon you need a bigger alternator. I use heated socks which plug into the battery. When i've used them on my XS or my FJ they literally burn my feet, but when used on my VFR just nice and toasty.

http://www.thebikerstore.co.uk/Gerbi...FRbfZgodEjqaCw

[skids]

I don't reckon you need a bigger alternator. I use heated socks which plug into the battery. When i've used them on my XS or my FJ they literally burn my feet, but when used on my VFR just nice and toasty.

http://www.thebikerstore.co.uk/Gerbi...FRbfZgodEjqaCw

I could be that you decided to discontinue use before you found that the charging system would not keep up? Devices that have heating elements generally use a lot of energy. Some riders have found, for example, that auxiliary lighting can only be used at cruising speeds. I have shyed away from buying heated grips for that reason.

[tarzan]

You could have an electric motor rebuild shop rewind your stator with more windings,it isnt cheap, but I think someone told me about a couple hundred dollars to rewind one.

[trbig]

It's also possible to use these things intermittently. I know a guy that would run some fog lights on his XJ that actually ended up drawing more than the system charged. When the battery got drained down after a while, the bike would sputter a bit, and he'd switch the lights off. The motor would run fine again and charge things back up. So if you could only have heated socks for a while before having to turn them off again.. it sure would be better than nothing sometimes! Cold feet and hands sure kills the fun.

I was looking at some heated gloves and they only draw 2 amps. Even the XS can handle that.

Tod

[TopCatGr58]

Don't forget that you can free up many amps by doing an LED conversion for the turn signals and tail/brake lights, see the tech tips for the stats!
T.C.

As mentioned, a search should reveal some recent and older threads on the many options that were discussed and suggested already!

[Ivan]

The Geezer regulators will not increase the total output, but will keep it charging at lower rpms, which may help in a slow cruise and at idle.

I have an extra field winding (the center part of the alternator) and I am strongly considering rewinding that, since winding wire isn't that terribly expensive. A thinner gauge, should allow more turns on it, causing a larger magnetic field. Time will tell. I am just short on time, and money, and long on projects.

[psycoreefer]

Didn't geezer himself post a while back on the possibility of a high output alternator he was contemplating. What ever happened with that, anyone know?