What does your volt meter read? UPDATE! WIRING ISSUE - HELP!

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Jun 4, 2007 | 08:28 PM

#11

auditech79

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Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 9,004

From: Nor Cal

RE: What does your volt meter read?

You need to check the volt drop from the alternator to the battery, if you have the volt meter but not an ohm meter check the volt drop. How you do this is you put the red lead on your meter to the + charging terminal on the alternator and the black lead on the + on the battery. If the wire is ok it should be less than .5 volts. If its over 1 volt drop the cable is bad.

Jun 4, 2007 | 08:57 PM

#12

theguy1084

1st Gear

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 434

From:

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: auditech79

You need to check the volt drop from the alternator to the battery, if you have the volt meter but not an ohm meter check the volt drop. How you do this is you put the red lead on your meter to the + charging terminal on the alternator and the black lead on the + on the battery. If the wire is ok it should be less than .5 volts. If its over 1 volt drop the cable is bad.

x2 If the batt and the alt are good the only place to lose power is the cable. no other ground would effect the charging process as said before. you can also test voltage drop on the ground side by going from the alt case to batt neg. Voltage drops are a better way to find high resistance than ohms. Vehicke must be running of course

Jun 4, 2007 | 09:34 PM

#13

wood_e

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,764

From: Ames, IA

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Battery + to alt + while running = 1.66v

plus the alt post was HOT so theres resistance there - time for a new terminal

Jun 4, 2007 | 09:41 PM

#14

auditech79

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Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 9,004

From: Nor Cal

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Cable and terminal just to be safe.

Jun 4, 2007 | 09:41 PM

#15

auditech79

Site Moderator

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 9,004

From: Nor Cal

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Cable and terminal just to be safe.

Jun 4, 2007 | 10:29 PM

#16

wood_e

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,764

From: Ames, IA

RE: What does your volt meter read?

True - I just need to find cable

Afternoon project!

Jun 5, 2007 | 08:39 AM

#17

Black_97 A4

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 272

From:

RE: What does your volt meter read?

i think mine is like 15-16..it seems kind of high but i dont know..its a new battery..

Jun 5, 2007 | 10:05 PM

#18

wood_e

Thread Starter

3rd Gear

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,764

From: Ames, IA

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Bingo - replaced the alt to battery cable and converted to a marine battery terminal

Idle - 13.8v
AC on 13.67v
Lights on 13.67v
Lights + AC - 13.5v

Auditech79 wins a cookie!

Jun 6, 2007 | 12:07 AM

#19

auditech79

Site Moderator

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 9,004

From: Nor Cal

RE: What does your volt meter read?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: wood_e

Bingo - replaced the alt to battery cable and converted to a marine battery terminal

Idle - 13.8v
AC on 13.67v
Lights on 13.67v
Lights + AC - 13.5v

Auditech79 wins a cookie!

I like chocolate chip