Battery Voltage at Switch On
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Battery Voltage at Switch On
Can some of you check for me
What's your battery voltage read at initial switch on before you start the car?
My battery took a hammering during shipping and it may be terminal (forgive the pun)
What's your battery voltage read at initial switch on before you start the car?
My battery took a hammering during shipping and it may be terminal (forgive the pun)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,454
Likes: 3
From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
I just happened to have the dic on voltage when it started last night. I was surprised when it only read 11.2 but slowly worked it's way up to 13.8 as I drove.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,179
From: Kannapolis NC
I've been watching mine for some time now, because it seemed low to me. I thought it should read about 12.8 or so, but when it sits a while it reads 11.8 or 11.9. Starts fine everytime and no other issues.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks guys. I suspected as much
I'll see how I go. I had it on charge again overnight and I'll leave the battery tender plugged in. I'm only getting 11.3 at start today although that's an improvement over yesterday.
I'll see how I go. I had it on charge again overnight and I'll leave the battery tender plugged in. I'm only getting 11.3 at start today although that's an improvement over yesterday.
Last edited by DeeGee; Dec 24, 2006 at 09:10 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Guys... This has been discussed in excrutiating detail. DO NOT GO BY THE DIC FOR BATTERY VOLTAGE when the car is off. The voltmeter is designed to measure alternator output when the car is running - it will always measure an inaccurately low voltage on the battery when the car is off. Anything from 11.0-11.9 is not abnormal in this mode. With the engine on the voltmeter should show between 13V and 14.5V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Guys... This has been discussed in excrutiating detail. DO NOT GO BY THE DIC FOR BATTERY VOLTAGE when the car is off. The voltmeter is designed to measure alternator output when the car is running - it will always measure an inaccurately low voltage on the battery when the car is off. Anything from 11.0-11.9 is not abnormal in this mode. With the engine on the voltmeter should show between 13V and 14.5V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
I'll do just that.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Guys... This has been discussed in excrutiating detail. DO NOT GO BY THE DIC FOR BATTERY VOLTAGE when the car is off. The voltmeter is designed to measure alternator output when the car is running - it will always measure an inaccurately low voltage on the battery when the car is off. Anything from 11.0-11.9 is not abnormal in this mode. With the engine on the voltmeter should show between 13V and 14.5V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
Now measure the battery itself at it's terminals with a DMM if you want to see it's charge. A fully charged battery measures ~12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures ~11.86 V.
full discharge is 00.0
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Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
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From: Southern NH
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq4.htm Table in section 4.4.2.
