ATVs and adding LED light bars??

[roylt]

Anyone know anything about this? I got a old Yamaha Timberwolf for the kids and I to goof around on. It is very old but seems to run OK. I had it out last weekend a little to try to prove it out before the kids get involved (they were over at their moms last weekend). Seemed like it will be fun but the lights are a little dim. Wanted to add a LED bar to the front rack. Looking online I can get a cheap unit that is super bright but now wondering if super bright (read a lot of watts) is the way to go. I don't want to be far from home in the dark and have the batt die.

Thoughts please. Education welcomed.

Am I over thinking it? Just slap it on and see what happens?


Thanks,

 

[Bull Barrel]

What is the alternator output (in watts)?
Figure all the draw from the system lights, ignition, etc. Add them all up and tat willl tell you what reserve you have left. Then add in the new lighting. If the total is close to or at total alternator output, it will have a hard time charging the battery.

 

[bogus bill]

Wife and I ride a lot but seldom at night. I am no expert but I also would be a little Leary of the possibility of getting a dead battery. To a large extent for me, a lot would depend on the type trails and terrain you drive on and how far from home or your truck and trailer you get. We live in SW Utah in very mountainous country and trailer where we start. We often get 35 miles from the truck or more and once in awhile might make a 100 mile ride.. We HAVE broke down 35 miles from our rig a couple years ago at night when I hit a deer and blew a tire besides. We were lucky and rescued by a family in a 4WD truck and the man drove us to our truck the 35 miles. Another guy followed us and helped us load the RZR on my trailer. This was now 2 am. A cold night too and at about 8,000 feet elevation. Only several times have we rode after dark but on our RZR just the stock lights seem to be good enough but if I rode at night I can see where more bright lights probably would be nice IF you could be sure it wont strand you. "They" will try to sell you tons of costly accessories that in reality you might seldom use. Your safest bet really is to ride in numbers if you ride in remote area`s. We used to ride with a club but no longer do as the wife and I are loners and don't like eating others dust. Also stuff like you want to stop and they want to go or you want to go and they want to go a different direction or whatever. I ride to be free, not regimented but admit it isn't smart. Wife and I DO ride a LOT. Sometimes I carry a emergency charger/air compresser with me that is charged up. I bought our RZR used and wasn't aware the prior owner had put tubes in the tires. We sheared off the valve stem on a tire and the tire couldn't be fixed to hold air. That time we drove slowly back about 20 miles on a flat tire. I now carry a spare tire on back. We always carry tools, some emergency survival gear etc and a revolver. Had to finish off that deer I hit. Trail riding is our biggest hobby. It does sound though like you wont be getting as involved with the kids as we do far back in wilderness areas. I would take a short ride at night close to home first to see how well your lights work. Might find out you don't need a couple hundred dollars worth of extra lights.

 

[coach]

The good news is LED lights draw a lot less electricity than halogen or other standard lights.
I had an old Toyota that had a 25 amp alternator I think and when I added a rear window defroster I found out it couldn’t keep up with the demand epesially with the lights turned on. I just had to remember not to leave it on too long. Hard to do if your out in the sticks and it’s dark.

 

[toysoldier]

LED? Find out the actual draw, not watt equivalent. Probably not much.

A boy scout is working on lighting the trap range at our gun club as an Eagle Scout project, so the high school teams that use it have more range time after school. The original estimate for the project, with halogen lighting, was about $15,000, and would require a new electric line to supply the energy-hungry bulbs. Revised plan uses LED's, $1,500, plug it into existing outlet.

 

[Pat-inCO]

LED? Find out the actual draw, not watt equivalent.
Probably not much.

Excellent point.

Specific example of why:
I got some incandescent bulb replacements that are rated at 60 watt
output, but draw less than twelve watts of power.

With LED bulbs the current draw is not directly proportional to the light
output. Why? Age of the LED technology. "New" LEDs are significantly
more efficient in converting current to light. Older tech ones can draw
from two to ten times as much current, for the same light, as the new
tech ones do. And this is just over the last three years.

Another thought is the shape of the reflector. You can take the same
output LED and put it in a "flood" type reflector and have a usable light
for 100 yards. Take the same LED and put it in a well focused reflector
and it will be good for over 400 yards (I have two different flashlights
that prove that difference).

Have fun finding the best set for your application. :wink:

 

[Mobuck]

Most of the older ATV's don't have a good power generating system--basically barely enough to keep the battery charged(maybe not even that). Many can't keep up if lights are used for any length of time when the engine is not wound up. We used to have problems during calving season with the battery slowly being depleted by idling around with a spotlight checking cows. After 2-3 nights of this, either put the charger on or suffer the walk home when the battery died.
In addition, since the intended use was mostly in daylight, the charging system of those older machines was never meant to handle the strain of compensating for higher draw lights and such leading to total failure of the stator/regulator.
When I see a UTV/ATV used for all day drudge work like spraying or seeding, I say to myself "There's a repair bill in progress".

 

[Bull Barrel]

Light output is not rated in watts but in lumens.
Two bulbs drawing the same wattage can put out different amounts of light.
Use the actual wattage of the lights.

 

[VonFatman]

i have had two mules - one a 1999 and the other a 1998 -- fairly old i guess.

i've re-lit with led lights (each mule got a pair of headlights, a light bar, a reverse light and a pair of tail lights). made no changes to the original charging systems. leds offer incredible output and so little draw! you do not even realize it.

my old factory lights would seriously dim when the engine was not reved.

will be taking these new leds off the mules (before i sell) and installing several of them on the new kubota.

a strong reverse light is important on an atv/utv.

be sure to have the lights wired through the key switch. or you will have a dead battery.



bob

 

[roylt]

Order a couple cheap light bars off ebay. Wish me luck and thanks for the input.

 

[tinman]

I prefer to use individual lights. Most of the light bars only throw light in one general direction......having 2 or even 3 individual lamps allow me to put light where I want/need it. Good luck.