Topic: 550 headlight on/off?

[pinnacle]

hey guys just wanting to know if i run my 78 cb550k with the headlight off will it make much of a differnce on the amount of draw on the charging system ? i am considering installing an on/off switch to give me the option of running it during the day with no headlight to help alleviate the draw on charging system.

[05c50]

Are you having a charging system problem, or just trying to conserve electricity?

.......Paul

[Spanner 1]

All our old Honda's are capable of running the headlight and having enough output from the alternator to also charge the battery.......so shouldn't matter, unless you put-put about on your bike below, say, 1.500 rpm where the alt. is not ' kicked-in ' to be able to add it's power to hold the battery from discharging....mind you, h/l turned off might gain you 1/5 of a horsepower !!

[Derby City]

Leave the light on and be seen.

[Spanner 1]

I guess in Canada, as in Europe, you don't need a headlight on in daylight, right ??

[Gordon]

Running the headlight definitely does make a difference in the amount of power available to keep the battery charged, but as has already been mentioned if your charging system is in good condition, you should be able to run the headlight day and night without problem.

If you've added extras, however, like a higher wattage headlight, heated grips, electronic ignition, 3ohm coils, then you may be having some problems even with a good charging system. 

I suggest either fixing the problem or reducing the accessory draw before considering riding on a regular basis without the headlight turned on, but I do like the option of easily turning off the headlight when working on the bike in the garage, so you don't drain the battery.

[pinnacle]

my charging system seems to be fine i just would like that option to turn it off on a real sunny day that it does not play a role in whether you are seen or not but may conserve some power.I don't put- put around  for the most part but the riding season is just starting up here and the city has not cleaned the sand and gravel they laid on the snow and ice over the winter yet and i have new spitfires on the bike so i want to be on the cautious side for a while.

[Gordon]

my charging system seems to be fine i just would like that option to turn it off on a real sunny day that it does not play a role in whether you are seen or not but may conserve some power.

Your headlight isn't there just to illuminate the road in front of you.  No matter how sunny the day is, having your headlight on makes you more visible to other drivers.  If your charging system is fine, then there is no real benefit to turning off the headlight while riding. 

After having ridden motorcycles for the last 15 years, I even turn on my car headlights in the daytime.  It just feels odd not to have them on now.    

[TwoTired]

hey guys just wanting to know if i run my 78 cb550k with the headlight off will it make much of a differnce on the amount of draw on the charging system ? i

Yes, the stock headlight draws 40 or 50 Watts.  Turning it off is 40-50 watts the charging system doesn't have to make.  That's a significant portion of the 150 watt peak output of the stock alternator.  And, the alternator only makes about 40-50 watts at idle.

I still don't think it is a good thing to ride without the headlight on, though.

Cheers,