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 Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
I stopped at the auto parts store last night for a replacement bulb for my Triumph light bar lamp. The lamps had 35 watt bulbs, but I stepped them both up to 55 watts. As I rode along with the night about to fall, I had to wonder -- Would the lightbar's relay & fuse handle an extra 40 watt load, or would I be hitch hiking home?
So far, so good.
Anyone else have any time with a similar load on their lighting system wiring?
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Re: Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
At 12 volts, 110 watts comes out to about 9.2 amps. The gotch is that incandescent lights pull more current when they are cold, so you get a current surge when they are first turned on.
So, the running current is really close to the fuse rating, but the switchon current is a bit more. At exactly the rated current, a fuse is not supposed to blow, then there is a specific curve of overcurrent vs time to blow. I don't know what the spec is on the mini fuses.
Bottom line is that it would be a good idea to switch the light bar on only when the engine is idling, otherwise, you will probably have no problems. Traditional Brit and Yank engineering practice is to add in a 30 to 50% safety factor in component design so the relay and wiring should be OK.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
Many thanks.
I bought this bike used. Are the lightbar lamps on their own fuse?
Last edited by LJ3000; 06/28/2006 12:13 PM.
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Re: Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416 |
Three years with 45W w/o any problems. Hope that helps! 
"Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something."
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Re: Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 84
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 84 |
Check this post for a schematic of the Triumph light bar: earlier light bar post jay
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Re: Triumph lightbar trivia
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223
Big Bore
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Big Bore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 9,223 |
Quote:
At 12 volts, 110 watts comes out to about 9.2 amps
You also have to factor in the voltage drop on the wires. My lightbar lamps (JC Whitney) are 45w which should only be 7.5a but the actual measured draw was closer to 9a.
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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