C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What should a dc volt meter read?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 07:46 PM
  #1  
bobby777's Avatar
bobby777
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 11
From: las vegas nv.
Default What should a dc volt meter read?

Battery fully charged on a batt. tender plus. On the meter it reads around 11.90 v is this about right? The display in the car reads 14.1 and goes down to 13.7 when warmed up. Is the meter off?
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 08:45 PM
  #2  
lost's Avatar
lost
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Spring Tx
Default

Voltage reading when car is running is the output of the alternator. Sounds like battery has a dead or dieing cell if you reading without the battery tender connected and the car not running.A good battery should read at least 12.6 volts
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 08:47 PM
  #3  
dkdonkim's Avatar
dkdonkim
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: RPV CA
Default

i am not sure about this...but, mine always read at 13.9 to 14.1....i have redtop now....but AC delco read same range....
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 10:12 PM
  #4  
screw991le's Avatar
screw991le
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Default

Mine reads 14.1 all the time
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 10:38 PM
  #5  
JoeyG's Avatar
JoeyG
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Default

If your measuring 11.0-13.0 with the car off it's fine. If you measure 13.0-14.8vdc with the car running it's fine. Even the battery tenders will hover in/at the 12.0 volt range. Besides theres all these little elctrical parasites in our C5's that need juice.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 10:46 PM
  #6  
bobby777's Avatar
bobby777
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 11
From: las vegas nv.
Default

I did put a real 2 amp charger on for awhile and the meter went up to 13 volts and read 60% fully charged. You are saying not to worry and the battery is fine? The car starts great.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2005 | 11:11 PM
  #7  
12stepvette's Avatar
12stepvette
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 881
Likes: 1
From: Hernando MS
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Default

Originally Posted by JoeyG
If your measuring 11.0-13.0 with the car off it's fine. If you measure 13.0-14.8vdc with the car running it's fine. Even the battery tenders will hover in/at the 12.0 volt range. Besides theres all these little elctrical parasites in our C5's that need juice.
yup
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2005 | 08:50 AM
  #8  
JoeyG's Avatar
JoeyG
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by bobby777
I did put a real 2 amp charger on for awhile and the meter went up to 13 volts and read 60% fully charged. You are saying not to worry and the battery is fine? The car starts great.
Yep.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To What should a dc volt meter read?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:53 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE