jacko
10+ year member
CarAudio.com Elite
If you at a stoplight(in drive, rpm's around 700-800) and voltage meter hovers just above the red line on the low voltage sign, which looks like it shows about 10-11volts, with the AC on and the system at only moderate volumes. Does this mean my alt is dying, am I hurting my alt, or this not needed to be worried about. It's a '97 bonneville, 77,000miles, with stock 135amp alt(pretty sure it has one of the GM 135's or 105's, not sure). Estimating 65% effieciency for my 2 channel amps, my current draw from my amps is about 90amps at their rated RMS output(I have them on four ohm loads so I can't just figure using the fuses on the amps). However, if I'm in park or neutral, or driving(1000-1100rpms+) the problem goes away and it will hover around 13 volts. I just want to know if it's hurting the alt or not because i don't want to turn off my AC or turn down my system at every stoplight. thnx.