Tested my new HO alternator. Meter says 16V 1 battery installed on car.

[Glock23 10+ year member]

OH so I need to get under the car where the alternator post is and check that.... I'm tired sorry I didn't see that. ok will do.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

OH so I need to get under the car where the alternator post is and check that.... I'm tired sorry I didn't see that. ok will do.

Yes, the most accurate location is directly on the positive post on the alternator itself.Then you have no line loss or other interferance.The alternator will work fine at 14.4-7v its just able to do a range of voltages rather then a set number like the factory.And a digital DMM will be your best friend.

 

[Glock23 10+ year member]

Yeah I'm going to buy a DMM in about 10 minutes

 

[Glock23 10+ year member]

I just got this digital meter so i'm not sure how to use it. it's a Sperry DM-4400A

Where do I place the dial to check my alternator?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Set it to the V with the solid and dotted line above it.This is the DC setting the one above is AC and the one above that is the OHM setting.Stick your probes in the far LEFT holes red and black.

Sorry edited for correctness...

 

[Glock23 10+ year member]

My meter is sitting here next to me jumping all over the place. Right now it's a - 56.6mV fuxes + or - 1 or 2 points

how do I get it to read 0 ?

I think i hit the range button

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

your leads need to go in the far left and the one immediately to the right of it.... not what the other guy said...

one labled V and the other COM

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

I did say red and black I just got the sides mixed up sorry bout that.

 

[mobeious 10+ year member]

my god .... this is going no where

 

[Glock23 10+ year member]

I got 12.78 at idle and 14.5 at 2500 or 3000 RPM ( my wife was reeving the engine

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

At idle your alt is providing no power. This is common for HO alts. You'll need to contact Nate at EA and see about having a smaller pulley made. He'll probably need the alt back.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

At idle your alt is providing no power. This is common for HO alts. You'll need to contact Nate at EA and see about having a smaller pulley made. He'll probably need the alt back.

Why not just adjust the regulator upto 14.4 volts first? He has an adjustable external regulator.

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

Why not just adjust the regulator upto 14.4 volts first? He has an adjustable external regulator.

Because that will up the voltage while he's driving. And even then, he'll still get 12.78 at idle. The problem is the alt is not spinning fast enough at idle to generate enough magnetic field to produce energy.

 

[Glock23 10+ year member]

Well don't most people when they compete rev there engines anyways? Am I atleast getting 200 amps?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Yep it sounds like your gonna need a smaller alt pulley.