My DIC says 13.6 - 13.8 V with just the radio and low fan. Is this typical? I've heard others running in the mid 14's?

 

Mine runs 14.6 to 15.00 all the time in winter. Summertime it will go as low as 14.2.

Tom

 

Mine runs between 13.8 and 14.1 Volt
It also depends on the charge condition and type of the battery. I have an Optima yellow top installed.

Roger

 

13.8 to 14.1 here, regardless of what's running.

 

Same here :yesnod:

 

My 97 coupe and 00 vert ran 13.6 to 14.1 (aprox) while my 02 Z06 seems to run 13.9 to 14.6 but I dont drive the 02 every day as I did the 97 and 00, that might be a factor but IMHO the 02 seems to pull more voltage than the other two as a norm.

 

On the highway, I get 14.4 volts reading. In the city, between 14.1 and 14.4.

 

I have seen the voltage from 13.8 to 14.4 in my 99 Coupe.

 

RedC5, hi,

I suppose, the DIC readings you mention in your post are during driving condition (are they?). When the car is at a stand still, no engine running, no actual electrical loads (doors closed, no internal lights on), you should usually read a voltage indication btn ~11.2 and 12.5V (the latter = fully charged). Actual readings depend in fact directly on your actual battery charged status.

Further and as to my understanding: when you drive the car (or stand still but engine running, ev. revving): the alternator power-output is to see as in relation to actual rpms and the actually loaded status of your battery. The charging output-power from your alternator goes via a regulator-circuit as to keep your battery either charging-up to max permissible V-value or regulates the way the battery does not overcharge (cooking a battery to death).

Even when all the on-board users would be switched to on, the regulator-circuit as well as the alternator output-power would always superceeding the demand of Voltage. Under such heavy-load conditions, there is always a little "over-power" flowing back to the battery to still keep her charging.

Under normal driving conditions you should read voltage values of btn ~13.0V and 14.5V. These are my usual readings so far. But understand, only an amps-meter would show you the effective status of usage vs charging. In fact, we should have both indicators in our cars (as it was the case earlier in my JAGUAR.....complete instrumentation).

In the SVC-Manual you may check the appropriate voltage-readings for a healthy battery. I would say, once the battery-readings pass below ~10.5V (stand still), then the battery's 10 celles (each at nominal 1.2V) are approaching at about their nominal lower end.

This is by far not an professional referate to your inquiry, but I hope it may cover some of the essentials.

Joe.

 

Same here.

 

The DIC and dash only display 12.9-13.2 while idling, and mid 13's while cruising. I checked my battery and alternator and they're fine, so it's the dash and DIC that are off.

 

Hey Mike, today mine was at 14.5 idle. Never really looked while moving. Too busy shifting ;)

 

Mine too!

 

14.1v~14.6v :yesnod:

 

While driving, usually 13.8 to 14.1

 

Thanks everyone for the input....I'm more comfortable with my numbers now :yesnod:

 

220, 221. Whatever it takes :jester