Topic: Will using led's everywhere allow a brighter headlight?

[Alan F.]

If I swap out all of my incandescent bulbs in favor of LED replacements, will that free up much juice for a higher wattage headlight?

Maybe combined with a modern regulator and rectifier things would be even better?

the bike is a K3 CB750

[gene03079]

Alan

I just put a modern regulator and rectifier in my 75 CB550. After installing the 2 pieces my charging voltage went to about 14 volts at 1500RPM. I have a new hi out put head lamp to install this weekend. I can give you some charging readings after the install for a base line.

the parts I used where from http://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/rectifiers3p.html

[andy750]

Alan I run a super-bright 60W Halogen headlight with no issues on a stock harness (on the K2 and K4). Got mine from Ebay for $15.

cheers
Andy

[leekellerking]

If I swap out all of my incandescent bulbs in favor of LED replacements, will that free up much juice for a higher wattage headlight?

Maybe combined with a modern regulator and rectifier things would be even better?

the bike is a K3 CB750

Alan:

I haven't gotten there yet, but I have read (over on Advrider.com) that one fairly easy way to increase headlight brightness is to run a relay (with larger gauge wire) from your battery to your headlight. 

Eastern Beaver has BMW specific kits:

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

They should give you an idea of what is involved.  This method is supposed to give you more current (and therefore more brightness) from your original bulb, and allow a more powerful bulb to be installed.

Lee
(Working on turn signals today)

[MCRider]

If I swap out all of my incandescent bulbs in favor of LED replacements, will that free up much juice for a higher wattage headlight?

Maybe combined with a modern regulator and rectifier things would be even better?

the bike is a K3 CB750

Alan:

I haven't gotten there yet, but I have read (over on Advrider.com) that one fairly easy way to increase headlight brightness is to run a relay (with larger gauge wire) from your battery to your headlight. 

Eastern Beaver has BMW specific kits:

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

They should give you an idea of what is involved.  This method is supposed to give you more current (and therefore more brightness) from your original bulb, and allow a more powerful bulb to be installed.

Lee
(Working on turn signals today)

I was just getting ready to post that suggestion myself. The relay is the key, as the handlebar switch is the weak link and must be bypassed to get full benefit for lights and horn.

I installed a relay on my HawkGT headlight and BAM what a difference. Now to put one on my horn.

You still won't draw more watts than the bulb is rated but the bulb will be brighter. THEN if you bump the wattage on the bulb you'll have a real torch.

[Bodi]

The same headlight bulb running brighter (because of higher voltage through the relay, bypassing the voltage drop in the wiring harness) will use more watts than before.
Switching all other lighting to LEDs will give you more available headlight power, but not a lot. The tail light, running lights up front, and the instrument lights are on "all the time", and switching to LEDs will drop the load by approximately the wattage of all those bulbs put together, probably about 20W total. The turn signals don't matter much at all since they're only on occaionally.
Be careful with tail light LED conversion bulbs. They are usually pathetically dim and unsafe for daytime use - the stop light is not noticeable in sunlight. There are converions using a single 3W or 5W LED that are bright enough, I haven't found a multi-LED "bulb" that's any good (and I have a box of them that I tried).
Changing the turn signal lamps will require a new flasher that works with the low bulb power load, or "resistor packs" that negate any power saving from the LED swap.

[MCRider]

The same headlight bulb running brighter (because of higher voltage through the relay, bypassing the voltage drop in the wiring harness) will use more watts than before.
SNIP

But will it use more watts that the bulb was rated? So in the original set up, a 60w bulb is not shining like a 60w bulb should. And with the relay you may draw more watts than you were, but not more than you thought you were.
Correct?

[Deltarider]

Philips has developped a 'fuel-efficient' halogen bulb recently, the EcoVision. Philips claims it uses 20% less electricity. So you'll get 55/60 halogen light and it will consume no more power than an ordinary 40/45 bulb.

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_ECOVISION_CAR_LAMPS_CA_GB_CONSUMER/#/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_ECOVISION_CAR_LAMPS_CA_GB_CONSUMER/

[malcolmgb]

The same headlight bulb running brighter (because of higher voltage through the relay, bypassing the voltage drop in the wiring harness) will use more watts than before.
SNIP

But will it use more watts that the bulb was rated? So in the original set up, a 60w bulb is not shining like a 60w bulb should. And with the relay you may draw more watts than you were, but not more than you thought you were.
Correct?

Watts are a unit of power you cannot draw them. Wattage = Voltage x Current(amps) these bikes use a 12volt system so a 60w bulb will draw 5 amps. Modern bulbs will probably produce a greater light output at a lower wattage and therefore a lower current.

[MCRider]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm losing touch now.

Main thing is... headlights with relays are brighter than the same headlight without.

IMO, probably moreso than anything gained from converting other bulbs to LEDs....because

There is already enough power in the system for a higher rated bulb, so savings from LEDs won't add anything to the headlight. So the suggestion in the original question of the thread doesn't play out.

Using a relay doesn't tax the system more, it just uses what is already being used more efficiently.


And off topic, but pertinent to safety, same for horns.