Switching to LED Technical question

[biguns]

I have seen people switching to LED and taking the loads off the generator/alternator but I cant help but think it would cause the regulator to run hotter since the regulator is dumping more current to ground but then I think so do the bulbs but some of that energy is dissipated in heat at the bulb itself and not to the chassis ground.
Just wondering if a bikes charging generator/alternator is designed for a certain load and the load is not present will it prematurely wear out or put a load somewhere else.
Maybe I am overthinking and not considering other factors.
Thanks.

[WingAdmin]

I have seen people switching to LED and taking the loads off the generator/alternator but I cant help but think it would cause the regulator to run hotter since the regulator is dumping more current to ground but then I think so do the bulbs but some of that energy is dissipated in heat at the bulb itself and not to the chassis ground.
Just wondering if a bikes charging generator/alternator is designed for a certain load and the load is not present will it prematurely wear out or put a load somewhere else.
Maybe I am overthinking and not considering other factors.
Thanks.

For the four-cylinder wings with a shunt regulator, you are correct - any load you take off the stator (using LEDs for instance) gets wasted as heat as the regulator shunts it to ground.

The main benefit is that it DOES give you more available power for any other accessories you may wish to add - there is a slim margin of power available for this. Switching your headlight to LED, for instance, frees up quite a bit of power that you can use to run other things (more lights?).

[biguns]

Funny you mentioned that I was thinking of adding lights, I took off all the extra lighting when I purchased the bike, No fog or driving lights but wrap around saddle bag lights, fork lights, marker lights.
I suppose they could all be switched to LED as well . I suppose it is time to do the math and figure out what extra lights can be reinstalled if I switch to LED headlight and taillight or what should remain incandescent.
Thanks

[Rambozo]

You can also switch to a series regulator that regulates by turning the stator on and off, and makes everything run much cooler.

[biguns]

Funny you mentioned that, I just looked up my past post on another forum and I did allot of research in 2014,I forgot all about that you will have to excuse my forgetfulness I spent the last few years recovering from health troubles and survived but lost some of my memory, apparently I was reading about mosfet RR found on 01 and newer Honda CBR`s Yamaha and Suzuki and looked for a kit with plugs to wire it.
While researching my old posts I realized I choose not to use the mosfet and went with an electrosport brand so I do have a newer better than stock RR but I had a reason for not going with the mosfet, I cant remember why, might have been cost or just saving time and riding instead of working on it.
What I do know is the permanent magnet rotor and stator will always generate voltage but where does it go on a mosfet? has to go to ground if the generator is always charging.
Going to retrace my footsteps on this
Thanks

[Rambozo]

MOSFET is just how the switching is done, it doesn't determine the type of regulator. There are MOSFET shunt regulators that still turn any excess into heat.
A series regulator just turns on and off the voltage very fast so the average is the desired voltage. This limits the current put out from the stator so it runs cooler and should last longer. It also means that you can swap all lights to LED to reduce the current as much as possible, without worrying about the shunt cooking itself.

[biguns]

Thanks, I will start looking that way, do they still need to be wired to fit or do they make a plug and play?

[Rambozo]

I believe there is a plug and play version for most wings. But often the stock plugs and wiring have already smoked, so some custom work is needed.