High Voltage at Battery!

[johnnyvolcom5 10+ year member]

Putting my system in this week, waiting for new stuff to ship. Decided to DMM my cars battery (i just bought it) 2002 honda civic sedan. with the car off i got a reading of 15.4 volts.....then i started my car and retested and got readings ranging from 18-24 volts. I dont think that is normal is it? I even turned every piece of electronics on in my car, brights, hazzrards, cranked cd player, all interior lights ect. Still had readings of 18-24 volts...usually above 20. As far as i know everything is stock. Havent done Big 3 yet and the grounds look 12 AWG....assuming alternator wire is 12 awg too. I could be wrong but this seems WAY to high. I also JUST bought the DMM, but i think its working properly.

Click to read more...

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

lol if this were true your cars electronics would be fried.

 

[Whytellyou]

I seen it happen on a older "70's" car where something was wrong with the alternator. Only thing it was killing was the battery.

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

Regulator could be bad on the alt. But still thats crazy high voltage.

 

[johnnyvolcom5 10+ year member]

lol if this were true your cars electronics would be fried.

Well unless im using the DMM wrong, or it isnt functioning properly those are the numbers im getting. I guess i will go test my old cars battery and see if that is also high....i remember my old car read 14 volts at the battery and my amps.

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

it should be about 13.5-14 ish running. High 12's when the car is off.

 

[johnnyvolcom5 10+ year member]

it should be about 13.5-14 ish running. High 12's when the car is off.

Ok well i tested the battery in my old buick, it has a die hard gold in it. initially tested it was 13.7 but then it jumped to 18....so pretty sure my DMM is just garbaage.....i just bought this one from sears. Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

Ok well i tested the battery in my old buick, it has a die hard gold in it. initially tested it was 13.7 but then it jumped to 18....so pretty sure my DMM is just garbaage.....i just bought this one from sears. Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

For $11 I don't think I would trust any of its readings. My DMM cost $600

 

[johnnyvolcom5 10+ year member]

For $11 I don't think I would trust any of its readings. My DMM cost $600

$600 for a DMM? WTF? Anyway, returned that DMM and got a higher quality one and it seems to be working perfect. 14.3 with car running so it was definitely a crappy DMM issue.

 

[KTMrida4life 10+ year member]

Find a different DMM

 

[johnnyvolcom5 10+ year member]

Find a different DMM

I did, returned that DMM for a more expensive one. Seems to work fine

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

$600 for a DMM? WTF? Anyway, returned that DMM and got a higher quality one and it seems to be working perfect. 14.3 with car running so it was definitely a crappy DMM issue.

My dad bought a high end model for his shop. And I use it all the time.

 

[assassin1840 10+ year member]

For $11 I don't think I would trust any of its readings. My DMM cost $600

i paided 30 bucks for mine and it works just fine. you over spent on your dmm unless you use it for other things than just checking car audio lol.

 

[GAMEOVERCCA 10+ year member]

$11 ddm will help you lose!!! hahaha.. been there done that..

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

i paided 30 bucks for mine and it works just fine. you over spent on your dmm unless you use it for other things than just checking car audio lol.

I didn't buy it. It was used at the auto repair shop. My dad diagnosed the old school way.