Car Battery reading unstable. Goes from 12-22v! Also 4 channel Amp question.

[87Accord 10+ year member]

I have recently done an install on a new car I got.. It's been quite a few years since my last install but for the most part everything went as planned and I am happy with everything except for a few questions I have.

1./ When i meter my battery at the leads +/- I get a voltage that in unstable and rises from 12 volts all the way up to 23 volts. So far I have not had any real issues with this as my amps/deck seems to run ok... but just curious as to what would cause this instability?

2./ I recently got a 4 channel bazooke el460 amp dirt cheap which does 65x4rms to replace the 2 50x2 rms amps I have right now. When I hook it up it powers on fine and it heats up so I know it's working somewhat.. the problem is that I get nothing from my speakers / sub. But when I do hook the speaker cable to the speaker outputs on the amp the sub moves for a second but puts out no sound. Same thing with my front stage. I metered the speaker outs and saw 22v !! I know that my other amps don't put out any voltage from the speaker outs... So anyone know if this has anything to do with my battery reading at 22v?

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[Bassin Buick]

sounds like a bad voltage regulator. if its built into the alternator , you need to replace it before you fry everything. thats a hell of a spike.

 

[87Accord 10+ year member]

Replace the alternator or replace the voltage regulator? btw this is when the car is not running.. no key in ignition even.

Any idea if that is whats causing the other amp to no work properly as well?

 

[Bassin Buick]

i dont have any idea why the amp isnt working , but the 22 volt readings have to be a bad meter or gauge. no way the battery is spiking to 22 volts by itself. i think whatever you are measuring voltage with is faulty.

 

[87Accord 10+ year member]

hrmm ok then. I have the hu hooked directly to the battery bypassing the 12+ from the harness of the car due to the fact that the one from the harness works intermitantly.. assuming theres a short somewhere along the way.. but it was easier to go right to battery than try and hunt down the culprit. This shouldn't be an issue as

nothing draws any current until i pop on the faceplate but on and the remotes kick in. However on a side note one time I did see the deck play for a minute or so after the faceplate came off (very weird or anyone see this before?)

 

[Bassin Buick]

yeah. had a older sony that would keep playing. HAHAHAH

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

You don't actually have 22V, but you have too much resistance in your ground measurement.