Has anyone thought of running with a second battery?

[1979wing]

I've done some stereo work to my 79 wing, Alpine deck, 4 speakers in my Windjammer, and a Kenwood under seat sub in my Vetter trunk. The sound is awesome, bike going strong, but worried about the strain on the electrical. Was considering a motorcycle gel battery in the trunk to supplement power during short rides. Sub has a volume control, and I can switch off. Would this help?

[WingAdmin]

I've done some stereo work to my 79 wing, Alpine deck, 4 speakers in my Windjammer, and a Kenwood under seat sub in my Vetter trunk. The sound is awesome, bike going strong, but worried about the strain on the electrical. Was considering a motorcycle gel battery in the trunk to supplement power during short rides. Sub has a volume control, and I can switch off. Would this help?

Batteries can only store what is being put into them. In a car and motorcycle, the battery's main reason for being is to start the bike. Once running, everything electrical on the bike is running from the stator/alternator - including the battery charging circuitry.

If your charging system isn't capable of handling the additional load of your stereo, then adding a second battery will only prolong the problems you have - in addition, it will cause additional load on the charging system trying to charge that second battery as well, which will leave you LESS power available for your stereo.

[1979wing]

How about a more powerful stator? Are those available?

[WingAdmin]

How about a more powerful stator? Are those available?

The stator is limited by available space in the motor. There are some larger ones that have a slight bump in power, but if you're looking for a real solution, you're probably wanting to investigate an external alternator conversion like a Poorboy conversion.

[SnoBrdr]

How about a more powerful stator? Are those available?

The stator is limited by available space in the motor. There are some larger ones that have a slight bump in power, but if you're looking for a real solution, you're probably wanting to investigate an external alternator conversion like a Poorboy conversion.

I shudder everytime someone mentions changing a stator.

[1979wing]

I was set on having the full Craig Vetter 79 Wing, with all the chrome I could find, and the stereo I couldn't afford in 79, even though I was working as an auto stereo installer in Vancouver. So, my bike is a dream bike, AND a survivor, with 7500 orig. Kms on it, and no major work done.

I was hoping having a second battery in the trunk just for the sub would move it off the grid, and I would use it during a ride, and then charge the battery between rides. I think I'm going to stick with that, as the sub is a bit of a gimmick, kind of like a Dixie air horn, and no, I'm not installing one of those.....

[1979wing]

And that will also mean that I leave the electrical system unmolested.