Modern Vespa

I've looked through the handbook and can't find any info on the current rating of the BV350's alternator. I'm already using an electric vest and want to add electric gloves for winter riding. I don't want to get stranded with a flat battery. The vest draws about 3 amps and the gloves will draw a similar amount. Can anyone help please?

Ride Safe, Regards, John W (4,700 miles and counting)

Edit for reference: I've learned that the BV350, like most scooters, has a Magneto, not an Alternator. (similar difference - a mag's on the crankshaft and an alternator is stand-alone, driven by a belt)

I've not heard of anyone doing a test on it 'for real'. Maybe you could? Add known loads to the accessory socket until the volts when the engine's at about 3,000 rpm drop to 13V. This will be the maximum safe load for your bike. I would expect it to be between 9-12A (~115 - ~155W).

Thanks Jim, that sounds like a good idea and I'll have a go at doing that soon. I might get annoyed that my bike's got ASR which will stop me doing 3,000 rpm on the centre-stand (unless I disable the ASR first - a bit fiddly).

Meanwhile I've been searching through the on-line Workshop Manual and have found under "Recharge Voltage Check" that the target maximum current should be greater than 20A when conduction a "Maximum Current Check". I guess that the bike's electrics will draw less than 10A, so my requirement of 6 amps to keep warm will probably be met.

Regards, John W.

Well I've done the test. Wired two 60 watt headlight bulbs in parallel and connected to an accessory plug. This draws 10 amps. Connected to the bike and went for a (short) ride lit up like a Christmas tree . Voltage steady at about 13.5 volts - so deduce that the battery is still charging while I'm drawing 10 amps from the accessory socket. My electric gear's going to draw 6 amps tops so I'm re-assured that I shouldn't get stranded in the winter with a discharged battery. I have not bothered to add a third bulb to see if I can draw 15 amps and still have the battery charging.

Thanks for the suggestion Jim.

Regards, John W.

Thanks, that's a good bench-mark. If one day you can be arsed to add a third and see what happens that'd be icing on the cake, but for now let's just publish "10A is fine".

Thanks for getting this information, John. It will help a lot of people looking to add accessories.

Should be no problem at all even at 3 items, like a pair of pants.

My Honda cranks out a measly 155w, half what the gts250 does. I can run gloves and jacket on full blast, or on medium with the headlight on and stay ahead of the draw.

Lights + high or max means losing battery charge, got to be careful.

Might be able to squeak out the lights if I went to a HIDs lamp and saved about 20w over the current 55w bulb.

Bravo! Nothing like a bit of imperical data to clarify things. Good for people who want to stay warm this winter, and also for those who want to rig up their scooters for the Christmas parades.

I've just received this e-mail from Piaggio (UK)

"Dear Mr Warner, Thank you for your recent web enquiry regarding your Beverly Sport Touring.
Please be advised that the Alternator output of the Beverly 350 is approximately 300 Watts."

That'll do nicely!

Regards, John W

Excellent - allowing 150W max for running the scooter (assuming both headlights on etc) that allows a full 150W for accessories.

Thanks for the update.

We can up this to 15A! The bulbs I used are H4 and have two filaments each. I therefore connected the second filament of one of the bulbs and tested the generator - voltage increase to 13.1 volts, briefly before the 15A fuse in the accessory plug blew!

I've also had a e-mail from Piaggio in answer to my query - the magneto is rated at 300W.

Regards, John W. (4,850 miles and counting)