Sorry, our motorcycles use alternators not generators. And yes, generator nameplate capacity is usually stated in watts. Visit your local power generating station and you'll see a big GE, Westinghouse or Allis-Chalmers machine generating the electric power you use at home. Then, when you get home, look at your electric distribution panel in your house. What do those circuit breakers say on them? Yes, that's rights..... AMPS
I believe you're right but it is fun to watch the thread turn esoteric and everybody wax intelligent. There are some smart folks on this site without a doubt.
Yes....some things to check; 1- Total the current demands of everything that is drawing current or consuming electrical power (watts) on the motorcycle. 2- Check your grounds and battery connections making sure they are clean and secure. 3- If you're concerned about an HID installation, remember when starting the engine, eliminate all external power consumption before starting the engine and cold striking the HID lights. 4- I would remove the battery and have it load tested by a reputable shop. Replace if necessary with a quality AGM battery of the highest Ahr rating that will fit your bike.
Circuit breakers are marked in Amps because they trip on overcurrent, not excess power. While this is true, the reason for the amps rating is because the voltage is constant in your example. The load or amount of current(amps) drawn is not. The breaker is set to open when the variable(amps) exceeds the rating. But if you want to be picky since power(watts) is voltage x current, the wattage used goes up and blows the breaker. Nope, not an engineer just someone who fixes Uncle Sam's flying machines support equipment. Knowledge is power, need more power, watts the matter with that?
Who said the voltage was constant? The same breaker can be used for 120 or 240VAC. A 15A breaker will hold at 1440W in a 120V circuit or 2880W in a 240V circuit.
Wait a minute...now we're mixing DC and AC and they are totally different... AC amps are not the same as DC amps...remember RMS comes into play here. So, are we all agreed, amps is current and watts is work?
Yes that true, but once connected in circuit whatever voltage circuit it is used on stays the same. You wouldn't want your house voltage floating around up to 240 volts. You are also correct, double voltage equals double watts. I guess its just math when it comes down to it. So I'll just default back to my first statement, demand exceeds supply and the lights dim. My supply of beer has exceeded my supply, off to the store!
"So, are we all agreed, amps is current and watts is work?" Yes. Well I do anyway. Still out of beer though. Yes it's the middle of the day on a Thursday. Doesn't matter.
Eeeegads man.......out of beer? "911? Operator, please, I'm in deep guano here...my supply of Yuengling has fallen below acceptable limits and I can no longer function and my battery won't supply enough amps to start my motorcycle and so, I cannot get to the the beer store to replenish my cold malt beverage... send help fast" "Sir, the mercy truck is enroute with the cold malt beverage you require...stay on the line with me....sir? Are you OK? Sir, are you having difficulty breathing? Sir?, Watts the matter sir?"
OK, enough of that....now that you're beer stock is back to normal, wanna sell your Speedie? I need a speedie with the 3 spoke wheels and the round bug eyes, preferable scorched yellow...I do not find the newer models very attractive with their strange headlight form factor. I like the older model with a belly pan, fly screen and rear cover. I wonder if there is an underseat exhaust conversion for them? How much for the old girl?
Actually, I started at the power station where they make the stuff and there, those folks usually refer to their product in watts, sometimes KVAs. But it is current (amps, electrons or coulombs) that flows. Agreed Mike?
