how many lights can a stock alternator handle?
- Thread starter luis
- Start date
JPNinPA
Well-known member
Your alternator is 90A. I would be sure not to load the alternator to max output. So estimate max load to be no more than 80A including the normal engine & radio and headlights.....draw. Overloading the alternator drains the battery and will lead to more issues. Last thing you want on the trail is a dead battery or sputtering jeep.
And don't count your battery as a power source in this unless you are considering how long they can be on without the engine running and still expect to start the jeep.
Each set of lights will draw 18A (130W) to 22A (150W).
So I would think 2 sets. But I'd have to look up what normal draw really is, as mentioned above.
And don't count your battery as a power source in this unless you are considering how long they can be on without the engine running and still expect to start the jeep.
Each set of lights will draw 18A (130W) to 22A (150W).
So I would think 2 sets. But I'd have to look up what normal draw really is, as mentioned above.
Mrsig
Member
Go some place you can turn them on. Then just aim them for your best field of view. If you have them set up by your windshield for off road use.
If your setting them up on your bumper for road use a quick way is be 15' from a wall and make sure the center of the beam is just below the center of your low beam on the wall.
Hope this helped.
bugleboy
New member
is it a good idea to use roof top lights for on-road driving if aimed correctly? i imagine they might be to high and might blind some ricers, im thinking of installing four lights, two for offroad only (aimed slightly higher for distance) and two for on-road use both wired to seprate switches, just wondering though, would they be up to high and blind anybody in a small car? and are the police gonna have their panties in a bunch over it?
jfrabat
New member
I used to run a pair of KC Daylighters (100W) on my windshield and a pair of Slimlights (also 100W) on my bunper with the stock alternator with no isues (even with an eFan, subwoofer, AC, and GPS draining current at the same time). I later moved to a larger alternator as a precaution, but I never had issues...
As for the windshield mounts, I really liked them there when I had them. I later added a snorkel, and that prevented using them there, so I moved them to a hood hinge mount, but it's not as good aas the windshield mounts (I now have a lot of glare when i turn them on. Still, they are better than no light). Just make sure you aim them far enough so that they are usefull (I use mine when I drive from Costa Rica to Panama and back a lot, but they can really blind oncoming traffic, so you have to be careful).
As for the windshield mounts, I really liked them there when I had them. I later added a snorkel, and that prevented using them there, so I moved them to a hood hinge mount, but it's not as good aas the windshield mounts (I now have a lot of glare when i turn them on. Still, they are better than no light). Just make sure you aim them far enough so that they are usefull (I use mine when I drive from Costa Rica to Panama and back a lot, but they can really blind oncoming traffic, so you have to be careful).
JPNinPA
Well-known member
Check your local and state laws. Some states you are only allowed four lights on at a time and none above the hood. Most brights and fogs can not be run together but brights and driving lights are o.k. as long as they are below the hood.
And yes anything above the hood will blind a lower vehicle if you have them directed to a useful distance.
0III0forlife
New member
The normal "law" states that it is illegal to have any clear lens light regardless of the wattage that is mounted above the height of the headlights. It might be different in Fla. But I'm sure you will still receive flack over it from the police if you are coming at them with daylighters on your roof mounted light bar, or even the windshield or hood mounted lights. The law also states that the maximum wattage for clear, forward facing lights is 65 watts, so therefore your 130watt is twice the legal limit. That is even if they are mounted legally down on your bumper or pushbar below the line of your headlights.
Gennybro
Active member
yes you have.
