alternator output

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

mine reads 14.4 and its old as dirt

 

[AJ²06 5,000+ posts]

Mine reads 13.7... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif but I still have dimming...

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

It was 14.4 with the radio on.

On the OP's car or yours?

to get to my point about measuring voltage at the Alternator. IF you have 14V at the Alt and 12.5 at the battery with the stereo on, you have a cable problem. Thats my point to the question I asked.

 

[jacka 10+ year member]

mine's been from 13.66 to 14.1. radio at listening level. it doesnt drop, it just varies each time i turn it on.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

it will vary upon the volume and what is playing....get a dmm that reads peaks both high and low and mess with your stereo u will see im right lol

 

[MTXThunder9500 10+ year member]

You could have one of the following
Weak Battery

Bad factory Cables

Weak Alternator

The factory cables can corrode underneath the jacket where it is not visable. That is why I suggested to check voltage at the back of the Alt to see if there is a drop from what you have at the battery and what the Alt is putting out. The higher the amperage against higher resistance would cause the drop to be more severe under load then at idle.

What does the battery sit at with the car off? Measure after the car has ran around town- wait about 30 minutes after turning car off to measure so the voltage can settle.

how do you check the voltage on the back of the alt???

as far as what is sits at i wanna say its at 12.5 with the car completely off i think i'll double check tha later

 

[prochobo 10+ year member]

I'm:

14.2-3 idle

14.4 @ 2000RPM

14.1 AC on full blast

12.5 car off

~10v @ full tilt

Hope that helps.

 

[MTXThunder9500 10+ year member]

I'm:
14.2-3 idle

14.4 @ 2000RPM

14.1 AC on full blast

12.5 car off

~10v @ full tilt

Hope that helps.

**** i think i need to get my shat looked at lol

 

[stuckinok 5,000+ posts]

measured mine today and iam sitting at 13.8 idle stereo off

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Back of the ALT is a large stud, that is the postive output, put your red lead there and ground the black lead. Compare voltage at the battery and at the Alt under load (stereo on)

Every car is different as the regulator for that car is different, most 90's GM cars range from 13.8-14.2

 

[MTXThunder9500 10+ year member]

Back of the ALT is a large stud, that is the postive output, put your red lead there and ground the black lead. Compare voltage at the battery and at the Alt under load (stereo on)
Every car is different as the regulator for that car is different, most 90's GM cars range from 13.8-14.2

awesome but one thing i dotn have the stereo in right now so can i turn on some of the other gadgets to create a load of some kind??

 

[prochobo 10+ year member]

awesome but one thing i dotn have the stereo in right now so can i turn on some of the other gadgets to create a load of some kind??

AC, Headlights, roll your windows up and down?

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

My car: 99 Grand Am GT: No audio: 13.8 Radio On & AC 12.5

Non of the cars have any sorta amplifier in them including mine.

So you have stock stereo?

no i dont have a stock stereo i have a new HU and the whole other crap subs amps and what have you.

awesome but one thing i dotn have the stereo in right now so can i turn on some of the other gadgets to create a load of some kind??

?????? Do you read what you post....LOL If all you have is an new HUin the car I'd say that is stock since you have nothing else drawing power in the car that is not there from the factory.

If voltage dips/spikes to 12.5V with just factory options (AC, Rear Defrost, Lights) and comes right back up into the 13.8 range that is normal. If it is a spike, but it stays there, its a low reading. By spike I mean the second that accessory is turned on, you'll hear the idle drop, voltage will drop and then recover in a matter of seconds. If it stays low, you have a problem

 

[MTXThunder9500 10+ year member]

So you have stock stereo?





?????? Do you read what you post....LOL If all you have is an new HUin the car I'd say that is stock since you have nothing else drawing power in the car that is not there from the factory.

If voltage dips/spikes to 12.5V with just factory options (AC, Rear Defrost, Lights) and comes right back up into the 13.8 range that is normal. If it is a spike, but it stays there, its a low reading. By spike I mean the second that accessory is turned on, you'll hear the idle drop, voltage will drop and then recover in a matter of seconds. If it stays low, you have a problem

yea i do and last time i check a aftermarket head unit wasnt a stock feature all i took out of the car was the amps

but on another note yeah it stays down it doesnt reallly recover