Possible to adapt phone charger to electrical system?

Mucci · Post by **Mucci** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:17 pm

I'm looking into building a Dream 305 for a client currently. She has inquired about possibly integrating an iPhone charger and/or heated grips into the build.

I don't yet have any experience with these bikes. Are either of these additions possible given the capabilities of the current charging system? Are there charging system upgrades available for these bikes that would make it possible?

Thanks for any help,
Dave

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:29 pm

Dave,
I am definitely no mechanic (ask anyone!), but I do know that these Honda 'charging' systems were marginal to begin with (I think they could more aptly be called 'maintaining' systems). I just added Rick's Motorsport Electrics stator and voltage regulator combination into my SuperHawk, and that has helped (Those have since been discontinued, so you'd have to track one down on the internet somehow). Plus, finding one of the earlier rotors (the one without the 'L' imprinted on it) might help the charging (I actually have an NOS one for sale, BTW). Other than that, I can't think of too much else that would help....LED lights conversions, maybe?

Bottom line, I personally wouldn't recommend adding to an already marginal charging system, but that's just based upon my personal experience with my SuperHawk, and with Hondas in general. Maybe your customer should make sure her phone is fully charged before she leaves the house, and perhaps can invest in some Gerbing battery-powered heated mitts?

OldStan · Post by **OldStan** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:35 pm

There is also the issue of no voltage regulation, so you stand a chance of frying the iPhone, unless you upgrade to the voltage regulator/diode unit.

Mucci · Post by **Mucci** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:46 pm

Thanks for the responses guys.

I'm finding "universal" kits which run a SAE connector directly from the battery leads, just like a tender, to a cigarette lighter with incorporated fuse (15A or so). You'd then use something like this in the cig. lighter:

and run your (ever changing) iPhone cable from the USB port.

My worry is that this could drain power faster then the charging system can keep it in the battery. That worry is coming from someone with very minimal understanding of electronics, so maybe it's not an issue?

The iPhone charges at 5V 1A 5Watts. Does anyone know what the alternator output is for these bikes at optimal RPM?

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:41 pm

With my SuperHawk and all those charging modifications, I was getting about 14.30 volts with the headlight off, and about 13.25 in change with the headlight on, and that's probably at about 4000rpm. I think 13 is probably what you'd normally get, hence my suggesting that it's more of a 'maintaining' system. Does anyone else have better numbers they're getting?

pknopp · Post by **pknopp** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:44 pm

I have to agree with Vince based upon my experience with older Honda's. The charging system was never great on any old Honda to start with.

I'd think heated grips would be a pretty strong draw at that.

Mucci · Post by **Mucci** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:46 pm

I found this thread where a member was able to get 13.65V and 3A charge current by upgrading the r/r and switching some lighting to LED.

http://www.honda305.com/forums/charging ... light=amps

However I'm not sure this would be enough to charge a phone as well.