Charging system question
But probabaly should be under electric rather than engines...
Flip the lights on for a couple seconds, turn off, and remeasure the battery voltage.
Battery should be 12.5-12.8 V
Flip the lights on and see what it reads. After the surface charge is removed it shouldn't drop much with just lights on for a minute or less.
When the lights are on, the ammeter should show the battery is discharging 5- 10 amps.
Start the engine. The ammeter should immediately show battery charging, especially when the engine is on fast idle.
Voltage at battery should read 13.8- 14.2 depending on temperature and regulator setpoint.
Voltage between alternator output stud and ground should be the same.
When the battery is recharged, the ammeter will be centered.
Flip on the parking lights, the ammeter should stay centered. With the headlights on, it may show slight battery discharge until you increase rpm above idle.
If you are seeing battery discharge while running, or running with just the parking lights on, measure the voltage at battery and at the alternator output.
Yup. Sure is.
But probabaly should be under electric rather than engines...
That's the quick and dirty test but there may have been surface charge on the battery.
Flip the lights on for a couple seconds, turn off, and remeasure the battery voltage.
Battery should be 12.5-12.8 V
Flip the lights on and see what it reads. After the surface charge is removed it shouldn't drop much with just lights on for a minute or less.
When the lights are on, the ammeter should show the battery is discharging 5- 10 amps.
Start the engine. The ammeter should immediately show battery charging, especially when the engine is on fast idle.
Voltage at battery should read 13.8- 14.2 depending on temperature and regulator setpoint.
Voltage between alternator output stud and ground should be the same.
When the battery is recharged, the ammeter will be centered.
Flip on the parking lights, the ammeter should stay centered. With the headlights on, it may show slight battery discharge until you increase rpm above idle.
If you are seeing battery discharge while running, or running with just the parking lights on, measure the voltage at battery and at the alternator output.
