How to measure alternator output??

[javisam376 10+ year member]

How can i measure the output of my alternator????

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[DBBOOM 10+ year member]

Clamp on amp meter.

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

Take DMM take leads start car up put dmm on dc contact the positive and negative were the battery is connected. If it reads higher than 12 volts than its charging.

 

[roarzorz 10+ year member]

You have to put a load on it and measure the current out with a clamp meter.

 

[javisam376 10+ year member]

would this clamp meter do it???

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Clamp-Meter-Tester-Multimeter/dp/B001G8RW06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1234126115&sr=8-1

there are a lot of clamp meters but they are over a hundred... is this one a crappy one???

thanks...

You have to put a load on it and measure the current out with a clamp meter.

 

[shakinghorizons]

DC Amp clamp. Many meters only have AC. turn on all power accessories, clamp your wire and rev your engine at your throttle body and read the output.

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[roarzorz 10+ year member]

would this clamp meter do it???
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Clamp-Meter-Tester-Multimeter/dp/B001G8RW06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1234126115&sr=8-1

there are a lot of clamp meters but they are over a hundred... is this one a crappy one???

thanks...

That one does not appear to read DC amps. If you're trying to see the max ouput then you need to load the alt enough for it to do so. It will only output what it needs to. I used my saz-3000d to test my 200a alt. Put the clamp on the + wire from the alternator to the batter set to read DC amps on peak hold. Get inside and roll into the volume while playing a test tone. The current draw from the amplifier acts as the load causing the alternator to put out current. Do it at idle for your idle output and then while holding 2k rpms for the max output.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

^^^Yes there MUST be a load in order to get a proper reading.A decent DMM with AC/DC amp readings will run from about 85(craftsman) to 285(fluke).

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

SEARS $60

That is the one I have. Works good for me. At $60, it is well worth the price. You might be able to "borrow" a similar tool at Autozone or other local parts stores.