Voltage readout on DIC
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 424
Likes: 19
From: Taylor Mill KY
Voltage readout on DIC
Hi All,
I just would like to know what values you are seeing on the DIC for Battery voltage. Mine is reading 14.5 and it seems a little high to me based on previous experience. In earlier times when working at an auto parts store in college the voltage regulators were set to be 13.8 Volts. If they were over 14V we were selling them a new regulator because it was over charging the battery over time. I have seen a reading of 17 once. Maybe technology has increased these limits, but we see a lot of battery related issues on this forum. I did do a search and reviewed previous posts. Could you chime in with your readings please.
Thanks, TLCJ
I just would like to know what values you are seeing on the DIC for Battery voltage. Mine is reading 14.5 and it seems a little high to me based on previous experience. In earlier times when working at an auto parts store in college the voltage regulators were set to be 13.8 Volts. If they were over 14V we were selling them a new regulator because it was over charging the battery over time. I have seen a reading of 17 once. Maybe technology has increased these limits, but we see a lot of battery related issues on this forum. I did do a search and reviewed previous posts. Could you chime in with your readings please.
Thanks, TLCJ
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mine Hill New Jersey
Different factors affect the voltage readings. One being how much load is on the charging system; another is the state of charge of the battery, etc. But anywhere from 13.5 to 14.5 volts is ok. Anything over 15 would give me concern.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,254
Likes: 5
From: Anaheim Hills, Ca
When you first start the engine, the alternator is charging the battery back to where it should be. You'll get a higher reading like 14.5 or slightly higher while the battery is accepting charge from the alternator. After it's charged to where the voltage regulator is set to, it will discontinue charging the battery and you'll get a reading closer to 14.0 even though the actual voltage in the battery is only about 12.5. That's because the alternator is still producing power for other power demands. The correct way to check battery voltage with a volt gauge like we have on the Vettes is to read the gauge with the engine off. That will tell you how many volts are actually in the battery.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
When you first start the engine, the alternator is charging the battery back to where it should be. You'll get a higher reading like 14.5 or slightly higher while the battery is accepting charge from the alternator. After it's charged to where the voltage regulator is set to, it will discontinue charging the battery and you'll get a reading closer to 14.0 even though the actual voltage in the battery is only about 12.5. That's because the alternator is still producing power for other power demands. The correct way to check battery voltage with a volt gauge like we have on the Vettes is to read the gauge with the engine off. That will tell you how many volts are actually in the battery.
what he said.14.4 is a normal "fast charge" voltage
13.8 is a normal "slow charge" voltage
12.5 is a normal fully charged battery voltage
All of these will vary a bit, with temperature and so on.
Older mechanical voltage regulators only had one setting, so it was about 13.8 for a slow charge. Newer electronic ones are smarter, and will fast charge for a while then taper off.
