HO alt installed, voltage not high enough

[Stillmatic22 10+ year member]

Sup guys, so saturday I finally got around to installing my new ALT from alterstart. Installation went perfect, then I decide to check my voltage with a DMM with the car running. At idle i'm at around 12.2-12.9. When I rev it (mind you I can rev to 9000+ rpms) the highest my voltage will go according to the DMM is 14.1...what gives?

The spec sheet that I received with the alt shows the voltage regulator was set at 14.447. So why does it not show such on the DMM.

RECAP. Installed alt, having same problems as before (lets say the amp was tested at 14.4) with HO alt regulator set at 14.447 when reved does not go over 14.1. It doesn't even feel as if I have a HO alt.

Please help, thanks in advance //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

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[94CamryBumpin 10+ year member]

maybe the alt wasn't big enough to make a diff?

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

Just my thoughts, your new alternator is for H.O CURRENT(amps) not necessarily VOLTAGE(volts). The voltage may read 14.1 but your amperage output should be higher now.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

yea its only a 150a...

 

[Stillmatic22 10+ year member]

ahh k, assuming my amp was tested at 14.4, what could I possibly do to raise my voltage so my amp will run at it's optimal state. The problem i'm having is at low volume (1-10) the sound is clear and crisp. Once I turn up the volume lets day 23-25, it's muffled like the treble n' bass aren't crisp anymore kinda muffled like. I don't even turn it up past that really. This is what makes me think that I'm getting volatge drop. Any opinions on what to check for, or what the above may be symtoms of?

Thanks again

 

[Mr. Opportunist 10+ year member]

wouldnt voltage drop result in subs playing quiter then they should?

 

[Moe Lester 10+ year member]

it probably puts out 14.447 volts with NO load on it

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

ahh k, assuming my amp was tested at 14.4, what could I possibly do to raise my voltage so my amp will run at it's optimal state. The problem i'm having is at low volume (1-10) the sound is clear and crisp. Once I turn up the volume lets day 23-25, it's muffled like the treble n' bass aren't crisp anymore kinda muffled like. I don't even turn it up past that really. This is what makes me think that I'm getting volatge drop. Any opinions on what to check for, or what the above may be symtoms of?
Thanks again

Is it DISTORTION you're hearing??? Check crossover freq. to the CDT's. Then check to see if the HU outputs are over modulating. IF the HU has built-in amps, even if you aren't using them, anything over about 70% volume will distort to some degree.

First, turn down the gains all the way. Turn your volume knob to the 23-25(no more than 70%) range again. Listen for the muffled noise. If you hear it with the gains all the way down, you are most likely sending a distorted signal to the amps. If it's clean, find a DMM and set your gains properly using that. The amp input signal was being overdriven.

That outta get you started anyway.

 

[Stillmatic22 10+ year member]

ThanX "deejuh" will give it a shot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif