Alternator Output Voltage?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,974
Likes: 5
From: CenTex Texas
Alternator Output Voltage?
What should a typical C5 alternator output voltage be? My DIC readings shows the "Battery Voltage" to fluxuate between 13.5 and 14.1 volts....but is mostly at 13.8 volts. The fluxuation occurs during normal driving....with no radio, no A/C, no turn signals, etc. However it's dipped down to as low as 12.8 when turn signal is used.
Anyway...is this normal or is my alternator slowly going out? BTW it's the orginal factory alternator (1997).
Anyway...is this normal or is my alternator slowly going out? BTW it's the orginal factory alternator (1997).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
There is no "typical"-it varies according to load. Typically alternators die in 2 ways, brushes wear out (the alternator completely dies) of the regulator goes and the voltage output is low and/or not DC anymore (1 or more diodes go).
The one thing that kills them quickly is a bad battery forcing it to overcharge. How old is your battery and what voltage is it?
The one thing that kills them quickly is a bad battery forcing it to overcharge. How old is your battery and what voltage is it?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Alternator output voltages
97C5ENVY
The Voltages on the IPC Meter and the DIC DC Volt display is NOT the TRUE output of the alternator or the TRUE battery voltage. To get the actual battery or alternator voltage you MUST measure the voltage directly on the battery terminale or on the output terminal of the alternator.
The voltage/s that you see on the dash meters is derived from a feed that is supplied by the IGNITION SWITCH. If the contacts in the ignition switch are dirty/burnt or defective, those meters and ALL the circuits supplied by the FIVE contacts in the switch can be deficient.
If you have never replaced or repaired your ignition switch, it may be required and resolve a lot of the issues that your seeing.
The alternator output should be 13.7 - 14.7 VDC Depending on battery condition/age/ ambient tempature and system load, it will vary.
Check out this ignition switch post:
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Hope this information helps.
BC
The Voltages on the IPC Meter and the DIC DC Volt display is NOT the TRUE output of the alternator or the TRUE battery voltage. To get the actual battery or alternator voltage you MUST measure the voltage directly on the battery terminale or on the output terminal of the alternator.
The voltage/s that you see on the dash meters is derived from a feed that is supplied by the IGNITION SWITCH. If the contacts in the ignition switch are dirty/burnt or defective, those meters and ALL the circuits supplied by the FIVE contacts in the switch can be deficient.
If you have never replaced or repaired your ignition switch, it may be required and resolve a lot of the issues that your seeing.
The alternator output should be 13.7 - 14.7 VDC Depending on battery condition/age/ ambient tempature and system load, it will vary.
Check out this ignition switch post:
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Hope this information helps.
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 31
From: Wichita KS
i did mine and it fixed about 5 DIFFERENT issues I was having, one being low batt voltage on the DIC even tho my alt was good to go.
altenator, alternator, alternatos, alternotar, brushes, c2, c4, c5, c6, change, corvette, output, overcharging, sprcs, typical, voltage
