Iraggi Alt doesn't put out at idle?

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

the machine looked primitive in comparison //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

i'll go to a different store.

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

That's not going to accurately determine what your alt can output. Your alt doesn't give amperage to your car until there is a demand for it. So unless you had your volume as loud as you could with a 30-50Hz tone that made your voltage drop to the 12s, you couldn't get the actual output of your alt. I believe the issue you still have with this, though, is that the battery will provide the amperage the alt can't give and it'll look like your alt is giving that amperage. That's why the only accurate way is on a bench tester that loads the alt with an amperage requirement and no battery is connected to the alt.
The fact that their machine got 300+ amps means something is completely screwed up with their machine or the way the guy connected/tested it. Are you positive he placed the loop clamp over the negative? I thought it should be on the positive.

Autozone does have the proper machine to give you an estimate of your alternator puts out at idle/full tilt. I believe most carry two types of testers. the first test is bringing in the alternator and setting it up inside the store to test diode pattern, voltage regulator, etc. The 2nd test is keep the alternator on your vehicle, while they bring a cart outside. And yes, they clamp the +. They do place a HUGE load on your alternator, which makes your alternator work at its best. I took it to autozone, buddy of mine works there, so we took our time and here were my results for my 200amp alt:

Alternator rev @ 1000RPM

Alternator reved at 1500-1600rpm

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

the machine looked primitive in comparison //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
i'll go to a different store.

is this the same machine as my picture?

I'd assume the employees have very little knowledge on the machine because i'd assume the only people that care about finding amperage output are us, car audio enthusiasts. I took my vehicle to two other autozones, prior to finding out my buddy works at autozone, and all their employees give me this confused look on what to do with this cart.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

double post?

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

is this the same machine as my picture?

no. like 20yrs older

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

no. like 20yrs older

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

yeah, i guess they don't feel the need to get new shit ???

i'm gonna go to a different store

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

As I previously said, most places like Autozone do not have the proper equipment to load test an alt. It's just a basic clamp meter. I've never seen one of those load testers at any of my local stores.

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

As I previously said, most places like Autozone do not have the proper equipment to load test an alt. It's just a basic clamp meter. I've never seen one of those load testers at any of my local stores.

should i consider myself lucky? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

ok, so after going to every dam parts store around my house....i find an Advance with that same machine. IDK about all the different tests, but i know when we load tested my alt @ 2k rpm it was putting down 275a @ 13.8v and like 68a at idle. then the battery test was all good too. i could see it slowly discharging after the engine was off.

i was surprised/impressed/happy.

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

good to hear!

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

yeah. i pay $150 shipped for a 200a, and i get way more than i paid for.

i'm happy

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

yeah. i pay $150 shipped for a 200a, and i get way more than i paid for.
i'm happy

pics or ban!

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

http://audioforum.termpro.com/topic/22/3982.html