Electric Bike Lights are essential for safety, especially for commuters and those who enjoy evening rides. Many e-bike owners consider upgrading their stock lighting for brighter, more efficient LED options. However, it’s crucial to understand your e-bike’s electrical system before making changes, as one user on ElectricBikeReview forums discovered.
This user successfully added a low-wattage LED headlight to their Momentum Transend E+ bike, noting the bike’s lighting circuit could handle up to 9 watts at 6 volts, while their new headlight only drew 2.4 watts. Enthusiastic about improving visibility further, they purchased a Light & Motion “Nip & Tuck” light combo (now Vis-E Combo), attracted by a great deal.
The excitement turned to slight concern upon realizing the specs of the new lights. At maximum brightness (500 lumens for the headlight and taillight combined), the set draws 9.49 watts, slightly exceeding the bike’s 9-watt limit. This raised a crucial question: would using these lights damage the e-bike’s electrical system, or would they simply operate at reduced brightness?
Interestingly, the user referenced another forum member who had installed even higher wattage lights (over 15 watts) on a Giant e-bike without apparent issues. This anecdotal evidence adds to the confusion. So, the core question remains for anyone upgrading electric bike lights: What happens when your lights’ wattage slightly exceeds the stated capacity of your e-bike’s lighting circuit? Is it a recipe for fried components, or just a minor dip in performance? Further investigation and caution are definitely warranted before pushing the limits of your e-bike’s electrical system.
