29-01-2023, 04:36 AM
(28-01-2023, 11:55 PM)David Cochrane Wrote:(28-01-2023, 10:14 AM)David Stepney wrote: Wrote: The only downside is that the dynamo now no longer balances the total current used when all the lights are on. There is a deficit of about 4 amps.
This is a sadly all too common misconception. The main thing to remember is that you have a battery in your car, which acts as a reservoir of electricity. The battery should contain at least 40 Ah (ampere hours) of stored electricity, which means that theoretically it can provide 4 amps of electricity for 10 hours. Easily more than enough time to get home from the pub (even if you set off 3 minutes later...).
I have fitted quartz halogen bulbs to my Chummy, which with the modest output from the DFL dynamo results in a 16A discharge with the headlamps on. Provided that I ensure that the 80Ah battery is fully charged before I set off, I have enough electricity to get to Harwich to catch the night ferry to Holland.
Thank you, David, but I was aware of that. I too have an 80 A/H battery, so plenty of reserve for the hour or so it takes me to get from Wrexham to home in Bala. I mentioned it more to show that the more powerful lamps consume rather more electricity.