under normal conditions, what does your volt meter read??

 

It reads 12 Volt at IDLE and 13 Volts when driving on my 68.
On my 80' Duntov it reads 13.9 Volt consitantly (digital gauge)

:cheers:

Olivier

 

UH... What's a volt meter?? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

As a general rule... battery is 12 volts (duh! :conehead ) and alternator is +/- 14 volts.

So if you look at the volt meter when you turn the key to on, it will read a tad less than 12 volts, cause of all the stuff that normally gets powered up when the key is turned to on.

If you look at the volt meter when the engine is running (at nominal speed) it should read around 14 volts.

Now these numbers may change somewhat depending on what is powered up and how fast the engine is running (i.e., if you have the headlight going and are at idle you may see lower 14 volts).

But, if you are tooling down the highway and you are at 12 volts, the alternator and/or voltage regulator are bye-bye and trouble is gonna follow. :eek:

Like I said, this is kinda a general rule (not only for cars but boats too).

Back in the olden days we had amp meters which told us if the electrical system was charging or discharging. Later came volt meters which told us the voltage.

Now which would I rather have (should anyone ask :lol: )... having used both over the many many years, I prefer the volt meter. Once you understand the "rules" of voltmeterism in relation to alernatorism, volt meters seem to tell more of one's electrical system's story/status.

Hope this help (and hope I didn't ramble too much...) :sleep:

 

My car is normal, fresh electricals....13.3-13.8 volts after running a few minits.....14.8 upon first started, dropps off rapidly.....13 even under full loading, a/c on, electric fans full speed, lights on at nite, windshield wipers running....foot on brake and in gear.....I also have DPFI, so the rpm's on engine are allways at 800-850 at idle....I have an SI17 alternator, same as ona caddy seville'78....

GENE

 

mine fluctuates between 13 and around 15 volts

 

hhhmmm...mine USED TO read just a tad over 13v goin down the road...
but since "the incident"... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=333640
...it now reads about 15...just below the white line before the red...
other than that everything seems normal...
im wondering why...is everything REALLY ok now????

 

Mine reads mostly science fiction. :lol:

 

13,14

 

0 Amps. :D Oh, you said voltmeter, not ammeter! :jester Crazy new technology in your car, I say... :smash: :lol:

:cheers:

 

Usually when a volt meter reads a little high it is a sign of the battery going south. It doesn't hold a charge as well as is should. Check the cells with a hydrometer to be sure.