Normal battery voltage...(after DBS)?

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Dec 30, 2005 | 04:25 PM

blittle

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 2,079

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From: York PA

Normal battery voltage...(after DBS)?

Now that I've got my electrical system back up after the wonderful DBS episode

...........I'm watching the battery like a hawk.....with the car shut down it is currently reading 12.86 volts. What would a normal range be?

Dec 30, 2005 | 04:44 PM

Brett Hunter

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 1,551

Likes: 4

From: Livingston Texas

I can't remember how long the battery needs to stabilize before testing but the fully charged voltage is 12.7. I would recommend checking the voltage after the car has not been started for a couple of hours and make sure it is close to this voltage.

Last edited by Brett Hunter; Dec 30, 2005 at 07:59 PM.

Dec 30, 2005 | 06:10 PM

MitchAlsup

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 5,529

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From: Austin Texas

A fully charged battery -- hot of of the charger will be in the 13.8-14.0 V range.

After cooling overnight, this battery will stabilize at 13.2-13.5V

Dec 30, 2005 | 06:22 PM

C8-Vette

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 3,867

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From: Wantagh,L.I. New York

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett Hunter

I can't remember how long the battery needs to stablize before testing but the fully charged voltage is 12.7. I would recommend checking the voltage after the car has not been started for a couple of hours and make sure it is close to this voltage.

A fully charged battery is 12.75 Volts. However voltage can drop to 12 or slightly less and the car will still start. A lot depends on temperature.

Dec 30, 2005 | 07:01 PM

DANNOV

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 816

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Quote:

Originally Posted by blittle

Now that I've got my electrical system back up after the wonderful DBS episode

...........I'm watching the battery like a hawk.....with the car shut down it is currently reading 12.86 volts. What would a normal range be?

During the winter my C6 (Z51 with manual trans) is usually inactive. When I went on a trip about 2 weeks ago, the voltage at the battery, read with a meter, was 12.8 volts. This was after shutdown and after a fairly long drive. After sitting unused for 2 weeks, the meter read 12.5 volts.

Dec 30, 2005 | 07:09 PM

haljensen

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 10,399

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From: Austin Texas

Depends on the age and condition of your digital multimeter and connections, should be 12.6V but 12.5 to 12.7 with no load (the light on the hood is a load) is correct.

Don't try to use the voltage meter in the car, it's reading alternator output not battery voltage.

Dec 30, 2005 | 07:41 PM

blittle

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 2,079

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From: York PA

Thanks guys.........sounds like I'm in the ballpark. I'm hoping to catch this thing in the process of losing power so that the dealer can get a read on what is doing the draw down but I'm sure I won't get that lucky! In any event I'm going to check it with the digital meter before bedtime and first thing in the morning for a couple of days

Dec 30, 2005 | 09:23 PM

Hoonose

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 53,520

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by blittle

It would only be of benefit if you did this night and day at the dealership, because even if you did find something (and you already know that you won't), you have to get it to the dealer to be looked at. And starting the car negates everything.
Save your time and don't bother. Either live with it like I have (DBS times 3, but hasn't happened again for almost a year), or get a prioritystart module.