How to check what ampage my alternator "REALLY" puts out

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

So yeah my alternator died about 4-5 months back and I still currently have the setup mentioned below in my sig and I bought an aftermarket alternator on ebay that "claims" to be 160 amps, but how do I really know what actual ampage im getting out of it?

Can I use a multimeter? I really dont want to do to a shop and pay some tard to do it.

Thanks

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ALso, where can I buy a really big legit alternator, like 200+ amps???? I really cant find a place online. Its for a 1992 civic

Click to read more...

 

[kross 10+ year member]

http://www.myflukestore.com/index.php?products_id=1251

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

Well I do know that at idle Im definately not getting 160 amps, IM thinking somewhere around 100-110 maybe more depending on what it is acctually putting out. I dont get any dimming when im around 2-3k rpms but I do get slight dimming at idle after a long period.

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

with the car on, unhook the wire harness thats connected to it... put a wire on the prongs on the alternator and touch it against the bolt with a wire comming out of it on the opposite side of the alternator , when this is done, put the dmm prongs on each one of the sides of wire that bridged the 2 points

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

with the car on, unhook the wire harness thats connected to it... put a wire on the prongs on the alternator and touch it against the bolt with a wire comming out of it on the opposite side of the alternator , when this is done, put the dmm prongs on each one of the sides of wire that bridged the 2 points

can you explain this better?

im assuming this makes the alternator think there is a big load and makes it max out its amperage? if thats the case...is it really safe to have that many amps running through your system that arent being used?

also whats the point of the DMM on the prongs. seems like it would be wired in parallel and checking for voltage. gotta be in series to measure amperage and most dmm are a max of 10a anyways.

i THINK im misunderstanding you though. sounds interesting so i want to know more

 

[tapout 5,000+ posts]

I really dont want to do to a shop and pay some tard to do it.

you do realize those tards you speak of can check the amperage of an alternator. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nerd.gif.c6fa51ddf7ff75f1c0371fbc648f70ae.gif

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

you do realize those tards you speak of can check the amperage of an alternator. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nerd.gif.c6fa51ddf7ff75f1c0371fbc648f70ae.gif

Acctually its the device that is checking the amperage, and some nobody making 7 dollars an hour charing me $50 to do so..

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

i guess yo can buy a $200 ammeter instead

or you can just drop the $50...

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

Well... in that case I would just rather not get it done at all. Maybe my buddy can do it for me next time I ride down to his shop.(if he has a meter) The point of this thread really was to see if their is a legit way(even if its off by a little bit) for me to check the aperage without acctually paying someone to do it for me

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

all you really need is a way to read amperage greater than 10a (which a dmm cant do) and a way to put max load on the alternator.

if your friend has that, then it can be done. maybe check some other shops to see if they will do it for cheaper.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

I appreciate your insight as I do with the other threads you address of mine. Thank you.

Kris

all you really need is a way to read amperage greater than 10a (which a dmm cant do) and a way to put max load on the alternator.
if your friend has that, then it can be done. maybe check some other shops to see if they will do it for cheaper.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

I appreciate your insight as I do with the other threads you address of mine. Thank you.
Kris

np

 

[denali804 10+ year member]

go to sears and buy a mini clamp meter. make sure it reads dc amps and i think it cost like 59 dollars there. Once you use it and get your reading return it for a refund if you dont want to keep it.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

i bet harbor freight tools has a cheap clamp meter

they have cheap everything