I'm planning on riding, daily, year round on my ST1300ABS (excepting when it is actively snowing or the roads haven't been cleared and salted) for the first time since I've lived in PA.
In prior years I've ridden year round it either didn't get that cold (North Carolina) or I didn't ride every day over long distances (Pennsylvania, thus far). As I've decided to finally do it, I figure I need to buy a few extra things to make my daily ride comfortable and safe. I also need to put a few other farkles (unrelated to winter gear) on, so hopefully someone can help a newb with that, as well.
I already have good boots, gloves, helmet, thermals undies, and an aerostich roadcrafter.
I don't have:
(1) Electric gear & thermostat for same;
(2) Heated handgrips;
(3) a trickle charger port; and
(4) a really loud aftermarket horn.
I think that's probably the universe of farkles I want to add. I know NOTHING about electric stuff. I have a mental block. I can do engines, transmissions, suspension, all the other stuff, but when it comes to wires, I'm a complete idiot. Accordingly, I'm going to have the dealership install them (or, perhaps, a buddy who was an electrician on a nuke sub).
My specific concerns:
First, it is my understanding that the 2007 ST1300ABS has an alternator that puts out 660 Watts. Does anyone know how much of that is being drawn just by the lights, horn, ABS, turn signals, or the rest? Basically, I'm trying to figure out the baseline maximum load that is being drawn off the alternator, stock.
Second, is there anything else I need to worry about in terms of electrical load? Amperage? Anything like that that I need to figure when I'm putting together my gear list? Will I be drawing more amps because I'm drawing more Watts? Do I need to replace fuses or wiring?
Third, to calculate the load of my farkles, I just add Watts? I think a Stebel horn is about 72 Watts, electric vest is about 44 Watts, pants about 44, handgrips are about 36 Watts (12 volts times 3 amps (this is how they're listed on the website). That adds up to a total potential extra draw of 196 Watts. I know the horn isn't going to be used constantly, so my concern there is more about blowing fuses and wires rather than draining the battery.
So, let's figure on a constant extra load of everything but the horn -- 124 Watts. Is that too much for the stock alternator without draining the battery or frying fuses and wires?
Fourth, I'm going to want the thermostat wired directly to the battery, and then I attach the vest/pants to that, right?
Fifth, do I need a relay for anything (everything) as I have a bunch of stuff I'm going to wire to the battery (the thermostat, the charger port, the heated handgrips)?
Last, I have a 12 volt trickle charger that I used on my old BMW F650GS Dakar. If I have a port put on my ST1300, can I use the same trickle charger or do I need to buy a new one specifically for the ST?
Thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll have more silly questions, so I apologize. I've just never done this before and I don't want to mess it up, waste money, or trust the dealership to get it right without me being absolutely clear up front about what I want done.
In prior years I've ridden year round it either didn't get that cold (North Carolina) or I didn't ride every day over long distances (Pennsylvania, thus far). As I've decided to finally do it, I figure I need to buy a few extra things to make my daily ride comfortable and safe. I also need to put a few other farkles (unrelated to winter gear) on, so hopefully someone can help a newb with that, as well.
I already have good boots, gloves, helmet, thermals undies, and an aerostich roadcrafter.
I don't have:
(1) Electric gear & thermostat for same;
(2) Heated handgrips;
(3) a trickle charger port; and
(4) a really loud aftermarket horn.
I think that's probably the universe of farkles I want to add. I know NOTHING about electric stuff. I have a mental block. I can do engines, transmissions, suspension, all the other stuff, but when it comes to wires, I'm a complete idiot. Accordingly, I'm going to have the dealership install them (or, perhaps, a buddy who was an electrician on a nuke sub).
My specific concerns:
First, it is my understanding that the 2007 ST1300ABS has an alternator that puts out 660 Watts. Does anyone know how much of that is being drawn just by the lights, horn, ABS, turn signals, or the rest? Basically, I'm trying to figure out the baseline maximum load that is being drawn off the alternator, stock.
Second, is there anything else I need to worry about in terms of electrical load? Amperage? Anything like that that I need to figure when I'm putting together my gear list? Will I be drawing more amps because I'm drawing more Watts? Do I need to replace fuses or wiring?
Third, to calculate the load of my farkles, I just add Watts? I think a Stebel horn is about 72 Watts, electric vest is about 44 Watts, pants about 44, handgrips are about 36 Watts (12 volts times 3 amps (this is how they're listed on the website). That adds up to a total potential extra draw of 196 Watts. I know the horn isn't going to be used constantly, so my concern there is more about blowing fuses and wires rather than draining the battery.
So, let's figure on a constant extra load of everything but the horn -- 124 Watts. Is that too much for the stock alternator without draining the battery or frying fuses and wires?
Fourth, I'm going to want the thermostat wired directly to the battery, and then I attach the vest/pants to that, right?
Fifth, do I need a relay for anything (everything) as I have a bunch of stuff I'm going to wire to the battery (the thermostat, the charger port, the heated handgrips)?
Last, I have a 12 volt trickle charger that I used on my old BMW F650GS Dakar. If I have a port put on my ST1300, can I use the same trickle charger or do I need to buy a new one specifically for the ST?
Thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll have more silly questions, so I apologize. I've just never done this before and I don't want to mess it up, waste money, or trust the dealership to get it right without me being absolutely clear up front about what I want done.