Upgrade electrical system on 00 Formula z 700 - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

offroadzj · 01-28-2008, 11:21 PM

I am trying to possibly upgrade the electrical system on my 2000 Formula Z 700. Basically in teh end I would like to add electric start, but for now I mainly want to add a battery in order to mainly allow my headlights to stay bright instead of go bright and dim with the RPM. I would like for the battery to charge itself if possible. I know that most sleds run on AC voltage, so I would need a rectifier I am assuming to change it to DC. Is there any special rectifier I would require, and how does it get wired in? Also, is there anything easy (no welding a gear to my drive belt and running it to a custom mounted alternator.. lol) to keep the battery charged? I will probably use a small battery from a motorcycle or something.
Thanks

kenny

Edit: I will be rewiring my headlights to a switch as well so I can manually turn them on/off.
Edit2: I didnt even think about it, but my sled does have hand and thumb warmers, and a hook-up for helmet defroster. does this mean taht I already have a rectifier/"alternator"??? And can I use this to keep the battery charged... and how?

**smallengineguy** · 01-29-2008, 07:20 AM

You have a lighting coil to power your lights, etc. But it will NOT charge your battery. Look on OnlineMicrofiche Index and look how other sleds charge their batteries. See if you can match up the parts. Have you tried a higher wattage bulb yet?

offroadzj · 01-29-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallengineguy

Have you tried a higher wattage bulb yet?

When I am on the throttle, it is more than bright enough... its just that when I'm idling, or moving a low rpm (which is rare, but does happen), it goes very dull. The biggest issue that this comes into effect is when I am taking a sharp turn... i let off the throttle to slow down, but then i can barely see where the trail is around the bend. I actually enjoy night riding quite a bit, and would just like to keep the headlights bright. I did some poking around today and did find out that my headlights are currently A/C voltage. I wired in a switch so I can turn them on/off at will, and also wired up some LED's inside the cowling so they shine through all of the air vents... but without a single visible LED. Once I get the under lighting on, I will post up some pics, but it really does look quite nice.

Thanks for the advice.

Kenny