Battery and Lights

[ross932c]

I have a 1984 Honda ATC 200ES Big Red 3 wheeler, it is made for a headlight and tail light. I added 2 more off road lights to widden my viewing range at night. When I have the headlight on it is nice and bright, when I click the tail light on it gets a little dim, andwhen I click on the high beams andoff roadlights everything dims quite a bit. I have a smaller battery then reccomended. The amperage is a little low.

Would a battery with a higher aperage (cranking amps) help out? the starter does work so I am going to get a good battery to be able to turn it over but am wondering if there is a way to get more power, or will the charging system not be able to keep upeven with more battery amps? What about multiple batteries?

[ross932c]

I was told to get my stator rewound? Wouldthis help out? Also can I put in a bigger stator?

[Tri-ZNate]

If you get more batteries make sure you connect them in parrell (red to red black to black NOT BLACK TO RED AND RED TO BLACK). if you connect them in parrell it will keep the voltage at 12V and keep the lights brighter (not sure if it would take longer for the batterys to charge being that 2 are connected together). If you hook them in series black to red and vise versa you will make 24V WHICH WOULD BE VERY BAD!

[ross932c]

lol, thanks, I knew that, but that would suck if I did that.

[ATCnut]

Your problem is your stator does not put out enough power to run more lights. Check at www.rickystator.com to see if you can get a high output stator. (watch out for th e prices, good stuff costs, might need to be sitting down). If you run more lights than your stator can power, you will run the battery down while you are riding. then you will have nothing. Plus you will burn up the stock stator.

[IceDude]

Is it actually possible to burn up a stator by over-working it??? If you can that would be very interesting. LOL

[ross932c]

I thought a stator ran all the time so would it really make a difference? I drove the 3 wheeler for a few months without a battery, the stator was the only thing powering my lights then, but I only had my headlight at that time and it wasn't very bright. I wouldthink that would wear out the stator first.

[ATCnut]

The problem with overloading the stator is the "IR" drop in the stator itself. When you put more lights on than the stator can handle, they get dim, but the stator is putting out more current (I) than it is designed for. The internal resistance (R) of the stator stays the same. IR drop becomes heat, therefore you get more heat in the stator and it can be damaged.

[ross932c]

ok, I get it now. Thanks