Alternator charging at 15.4 volts after doubling big 3. Is this ok???

[ta2ed9783]

Soon as I cranked car after adding 2nd run of 1/0 ga ofc to big 3 it was showing 15 4 on volt meter. Is that good or bad?

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[SamIam71]

Let it warm up a bit and see if it drops.

 

[garychurch84 10+ year member]

My car ran at 15.1v when I first started it earlier then dropped to 14.5v after a min or two

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Is it factory or aftermarket alt?

 

[ta2ed9783]

****, nevermind. I jus found that my plug @ alt was loose. So I wasnt getting a regulator. I plugged it back in and with the 2nd set of runs it is holding at 14.4@ idle.

 

[ta2ed9783]

****, nevermind. I jus found that my plug @ alt was loose. So I wasnt getting a regulator. I plugged it back in and with the 2nd set of runs it is holding at 14.4@ idle.

 

[Beatin' 10+ year member]

15.4v?

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

when i start mine on cool mornings mine starts about 15.1 or .2. The highest its been is like 15.3. But once it warms up it goes down to 14.4

 

[MecaVA]

ha. my car is *** backwards. i charge at 14.1 and go up to 14.6

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Ya, I've had my plug do that as well, but very severe. My plug wasn't touching on my rebuilt factory alt (180a). My voltage would spike to 16v+ and my dash and radio would turn off. I stopped in the middle of traffic and pulled the plug on the alt to save the batteries lol, wasn't going to have those explode. Such a small connection almost killed my ride.

 

[Beatin' 10+ year member]

i thought high voltage is good so long as it's not crazy like 18v+

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

i thought high voltage is good so long as it's not crazy like 18v+

Really strictly depends on the battery and amp dc voltages.

 

[ta2ed9783]

Yeah it had me like "wow that second run did wonders!" Lol. Then I figured out the plug got knocked loose.

 

[ta2ed9783]

Another quick question, if I clamp both wires from alt together will I get an accurate reading or do I have to clamp each one and add numbers?

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Another quick question, if I clamp both wires from alt together will I get an accurate reading or do I have to clamp each one and add numbers?

It's gonna show the same number