Thread: Overloading Electrical System

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Candlpower is just light intensity not wattage used. You will have to read the box it came in or find wattage listed on it.
I am going to leave it at that. I don't need an explanation of what wattage is since I am an electrical foreman and work with electricity in all forms everyday.

Look at it this way, you can change candlepower without changing wattage by changing the reflector. Think of a maglight, when you focus the beam to a smaller spot you are increasing candlepower. Candlepower is how much light that is concentrated in one spot. It is kinda like lumens in a bulb. The further away from the light source you are the less candlepower, but the bulb still has the same wattage.
To answer your question you should be able to find wattage written on the bulb.


Without looking at this site you really are "in the dark."
Look at this site about candlepower, watts, kelvin ratings, color etc...

http://www.lightcalc.com/glossary.html

Originally posted by DennyW
Yes sir, I understand all that you are saying. That's why I asked the original asker the question about what it its rated at. I understand the changing of light, beams, intensity, by changing just the reflectors. I really wasn't trying to give you a hard time.

I would assume if it came with a lighter plug in, he should be safe to run it.
He seemed to be worried about it. That's why I suggested he run it from his battery instead of from the lighter socket. But, he hasn't replied with more info yet.

I apologize I come to this due to too many days with arguing with other electricians over "little things." I just started talking about this because of load on the alternator. If it came with a lighter plug on it of course you can use it. If I was worried about it I would run it off the battery myself or install another lighter circuit and socket. Fused of course.
Again I apologize for getting sooo defensive.

By the way that is a cool avatar.

Originally posted by jramshu
I apologize I come to this due to too many days with arguing with other electricians over "little things." I just started talking about this because of load on the alternator. If it came with a lighter plug on it of course you can use it. If I was worried about it I would run it off the battery myself or install another lighter circuit and socket. Fused of course.
Again I apologize for getting sooo defensive.

By the way that is a cool avatar.

then you ought to know how we fill, the guy asked if he could use his light without burning up his alt. and i said yes and you threw a ? mark into it. this is what i done for the last 40 yrs. and it looks like every answer i give somebody knows more about it than i do, so the one asking the ? don't ever know the truth. i have used one of those lights many times without any problem I work on alt and starters all day long, im ase certified in wiring of autos. so I believe I know if you can run that light or not. i just get so tired of defending my answers and the man still dont know for sure.

I have a degree in automotive electrical and electronics systems. I was a M1A1 Abrams Tank System Mechanic for many years in the Army. Our main thing was troubleshooting automotive electrical systems.I have also rebuilt starters and alternators for my own rides. I am also a licensed journeyman electrician in the state of Texas. So I also have tons of experience in the same field as you. But not as long considering I am only 33. One thing I do know is how much you are supposed to load ANY ac device, wire ampacity, and pretty much anything electrical. Anything from auto to industrial wiring. I am getting my Master Electrician license this year. I simply put in my opinion just like you. You are the one who put me in the defense. I WAS NOT trying to start anything. If you look it up any technical manual will tell you not to load an alternator more than 80% of its maximum ampacity. So therefore if he has a 60 amp alt he can run 48 amps continuously. That is all I was trying to say. There was no need in trying to pick apart my advice. Which happened to be yes you can run the light with the lighter plug with no prob whatsoever, without any problem with the alternator. If the lighter recepticle is overloaded it will simply blow the fuse. If I am wrong I will admit it, I am man enough to do just that. I was just trying to throw a little known fact about electrical loads. Consider it a little free information. I had no intention with arguing the facts with you lt1s10. With this I bid yall farewell, I have to go to work tomorrow and won't be back for at least two weeks so this is my last post for a while.

that's all well and good jramshu, but still the ? should have been addressed so the guy could have gone on and used his light without worrying about burning something up and then you could have come back with all the ifs you had and could have given us a lesson in electricity. the way you talk you would have thought the guy was working on a fire truck. the problem i have with this whole deal is a person asked a simple ? got some pretty good answers, and then one that comes on like he really knows what his talking about goes off the deep end with nothing really to do with the ? that was asked and the person leaves the board not knowing what the truth is. that guy asked a simple ? and should have gotten a simple answer to his ? and not confused it with all this other stuff.

Originally posted by gemcleod
Is it possible to fry the electrical system by plugging too many accessories into the lighter? I have a high-powered 1 million candle spotlight for the bush, but I have been advised that it may blow the alternator. Is there any truth to this? If I turn off all other electrical appliances, will it ease pressure on the system?

lt1s10 The orig ? is about burning up the electrical system by having too many acces. plugged in to the lighter. Then others went on about the alternator. I simply replied to the loading side of the alternator. Some people other than you were making comments! I just put in my two cents, like you did. You don't have to read what I post.

Originally posted by jramshu
lt1s10 The orig ? is about burning up the electrical system by having too many acces. plugged in to the lighter. Then others went on about the alternator. I simply replied to the loading side of the alternator. Some people other than you were making comments! I just put in my two cents, like you did. You don't have to read what I post.

his post
is it possible to fry the electrical system by plugging too many accessories into the lighter? I have a high-powered 1 million candle spotlight for the bush, but I have been advised that it may blow the alternator. Is there any truth to this? If I turn off all other electrical appliances, will it ease pressure on the system?

my post
no its no truth to that.

your post
You should only run 80% of the the rated load on the alt to prevent damage.

you cant plug to many accessories in the lighter plug, because you cant put but one in there at a time.
then i tried to get you to tell the man he could use his lighter without burning his alt. up and you went off the deep end about to much load, and the man had no idea what you was talking about. the guy was pulling out a cig. lighter and pluging in a light, he wont adding nothing to the system. you were making a mountain out of a mold hill, and im gonna read any post that ? my answers. ill almost bet you that you talked that guy out of using his light, when it was uncalled for.