How many extra watts of accessories can the CB1100 handle?

[HondaFan_imp]

Does anyone know how many extra watts of accessories the CB1100 can handle? I have a 2016 CB1100.

[Lord Popgun]

Here is a thread that tells the alternator output. It also discusses the fact that we don't know how much the bike uses normally.

[Whoops]

Here is a thread that tells the alternator output. It also discusses the fact that we don't know how much the bike uses normally.

I don't see a link. Could you try again? I am interested as well. I would love to put a couple aux lights and a USB charger on the bike but don't want to overload the alternator either.

[Lord Popgun]

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid221250

Sorry, I forgot to paste the link.

[Whoops]

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....#pid221250

Sorry, I forgot to paste the link.

Thank you! I might end up swapping out the main headlight to an LED to free up some juice. The heated grips are also something I would love to have.

[Cormanus]

Whoops, I've been running a USB outlet for some years with no problems. Others have installed additional lighting. I'm sure many of them also have USB outlets. I've not heard of anyone having overload problems.

[Tev62]

My 1995 Daytona 1200 is similarly rated, if not a little less, 25A @12V (~300w) and all the lights are regular bulbs. With the lights on, braking and indicating you could be using 150w in lighting alone (duel headlights). It still manages to run a heated vest drawing several amps so any auxiliary loads you need on the CB I would be fine. I would say you have a good few amps to spare. When Triumph released the Trophy Touring model (in the 90's) with the same 25A alternator it was widely panned as inadequate for a serious tourer and they changed the design to a 40A unit.

[beardyweirdy@me.com_imp]

Hi,
I had flat battery a few years back on the CB. I was touring two up and rolled into a town for lunch. Bike wouldn’t start again when we returned. Had to bump it.
It was winter and we both had heated jackets on and heated grips were on. I’d been trickling along country lanes, low revs using the torque for super smooth, pillion friendly riding.

I looked into the alt. output and figured that it wasn’t making enough juice at low revs. I think sub 3,500rpm it’s not putting much out at all. Finished the rest of the trip in a lower gear at higher revs and turned the jackets down... it was fine.
It’s worth thinking about if your riding finds you often in the bottom end.


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[Pauley]

There's enough juice for my Firstgear heated jacket/gloves cranked up to high while charging my cell phone and GoPro batteries. I have no idea how close to the limit that it is, but I have no plans for adding any more draw.

[j3gq_imp]

The question needs to be seen from a few different angles.
1) CB harness(es) -> can burn through
if you connect to an existing CB wire or harness (in the wrong spot), the risk is to melt that wire, can be a tricky repair; to avoid it you need to know or measure every piece of wire between the new accessory and the battery; a better solution, install a large enough wire / cable straight from the battery to the new accessory. PS: This is true despite the fact that every M/C has fuses installed.
2) alternator -> cannot break
if it doesn't produce enough juice, the extra Amps are drawn from the battery - if and when this happens depends on alternator size, total power draw, how often the new accessories are turned on etc. and last not least engine rpm.
3) battery -> might discharge, cannot break
this can be easily measured with a little Amp meter, temporarily installed (in sight somewhere) in the dash, best use digital.

Another solution, buy and install one of the available LiP phone rechangers. They come in many sizes and capacity and can power anything straight, with 5V or 12 V, without connecting to your CB's systems. I have one in the garage, which would re-juice my phone 10 times without going empty, and is barely larger than an Iphone. Unlike the Li-Ion batteries, LiP do not pose a fire hazard, fit under your seat, and can recharge while you eat a Pizza. Careful so, they don't like too much engine heat.

If you don't like that idea, here is a rule of thumb for your electrical system's capacity. All standard equipment (factory installed equipment) turned on, and the engine running at more than 1800 rpms (cont.), the alternator is dimension-ed to provide 120% of the total power draw, and keep the voltage in the system high enough to charge (a standard) battery up to full.
Hope this helps a little.