ALTERNATOR AND Volt GUAGE

Tiny
BOB GASKILL
  • MEMBER
  • 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
ON MY GENERATOR WHEN I PUT THE VOLT METER ON THE POSITIVE AND NEGITIVE PULLS, NOT RUNNING I GET 12.5 WHEN RUNNING THE READING IS 13.7 BUT AT THE VOLT METER IT IS 11 EVER WHEN I USE MY VOLT METER, WHEN BUILDING THE GENERATOR WE USED A CHEVY CAR ALTERNATOR. WHY DO I GET THESE FUNNY READINGS.
Friday, April 8th, 2011 AT 3:36 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could be a problem with the voltage regulator its job is to stabilize the output voltages-conditioner
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 8th, 2011 AT 3:46 AM
Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
Get a second opinion. Have the charging system checked (for free) at an autoparts store such as Autozone, Advance Auto or O'Reilly's. If they come up with only 11 volts then you have a problem in the charging system.

However, if the only guage reading 11 volts in the one in the car. Chances are that guage is inaccurate.

If you connect your voltmeter to the leads at the back of the in-car voltmeter (wires should be disconnected from the in-car volt meter during this test) and you get 11 volts, suspect the wiring between the alternator and in-car voltmeter. (Provided that your test and the autoparts store tests read mores than 11 volts)
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, April 8th, 2011 AT 3:31 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Alternator Content

Alternator Replacement
VIDEO
Alternator Replacement
In­struc­tional re­pair video
Alternator
GUIDE
Alternator
An al­ter­na­tor is de­signed to sup­ply elec­tri­cal power (13.6 to 14.6 volts) to a ve­hi­cle when the en­gine is op­er­at­ing to recharge the bat­tery back up for fu­ture use. This is...
VIEW MORE