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| Alternator questions. https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18969 |
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| Author: | Eric W [ Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Alternator questions. |
I tested the output of my alternator today and was surprised to find it putting out 15.47 +/- a few 100's volts. At the battery, it read around 15.27. This seems kinda high at idle. Also, I checked one field terminal and it read a little over 14 volts, and the other read only around 7. This can't be normal, or is it? Battery is a few months old, and there isn't any acid leaking out of it. Any thoughts? I asked on Moparts and got no replies. Probably because I don't have a trailer queen, rarely driven muscle car. Should have asked you guys first! |
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| Author: | Reed [ Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
My understanding is that the system should put out 14.5 volts all the time. At idle, under load, except for maye idling at 450 RPM. Additionally, my understanding is that in a dual field alternator, one field will be putting out max volts all the tims, and the other is varied according to the voltage regulator to make the total volts equal to 14.5 (+/-). I say your system is working better than most, and you should leave it alone and be happy! Did you check it under load? Try pulling a set of headligths, turning the lights on, and checking the voltage at the socket. |
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| Author: | KBB_of_TMC [ Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | 15.3 kinda high |
The maximum voltage is controlled by the voltage regulator; it should be more like 13.5-14.4V or so. Either your regulator is failing or there is a bad connection between it IGN, causing it to "see" a lower voltage that is there. A poor ground can cause problems too, but is unlikely to make the voltage go high since the FLD current path uses the same ground. Measure the IGN voltage at the regulator w/ a ~0.5A load or so to eliminate the 2nd, rather rare, possibility. Most likely, your regulator is done for. Mine did the same and at the same time the very gooey potting in it melted and started running down the firewall - I did a postmortum on it and found that a power resistor was half burned through inside. Regulators are cheap; be sure that it is grounded well. |
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