Charge voltage
Charge voltage
Hi, is it normal to only have around 13.6 volts of voltage with the engine (and alternator) running? Shouldn't it be around 14.4, or is 13.6 standard for the 340?
Hi Pappa,
Assuming the alternator and regulator are both in good serviceable order :-
The measured voltage (and current) seen depends a great deal on the condition of the battery and it's state of charge and the load demanded by the consumers at the time of measurement (at the battery).
Assuming a fully charged battery with no high loading 13.6v at 800rpm + is perfectly OK. In fact factory spec calls for between 13.5-15.0v @ 13.3rps.
From my own experience 13.3-14.0 is about normal. With a 30A load the voltage should between 14.0 and 15.0v (14.7v is about right) at around 2500rpm.
On the 360 (Bosch alternator) the specs are a little tighter (5A load @ 3000rpm) at 13.7-14.1v with a cold regulator and 13.5-14.1v with a warm reg.(after driving 15mins.+).
Ignoring the figures though - if the car starts and runs OK and the battery doesn't go flat in normal use there is probably nothing wrong. As with everything in life there are huge "normal" variences - so don't get hung up on whether 13.6 is any worse than 13.8 (or whatever).
Mac.
Assuming the alternator and regulator are both in good serviceable order :-
The measured voltage (and current) seen depends a great deal on the condition of the battery and it's state of charge and the load demanded by the consumers at the time of measurement (at the battery).
Assuming a fully charged battery with no high loading 13.6v at 800rpm + is perfectly OK. In fact factory spec calls for between 13.5-15.0v @ 13.3rps.
From my own experience 13.3-14.0 is about normal. With a 30A load the voltage should between 14.0 and 15.0v (14.7v is about right) at around 2500rpm.
On the 360 (Bosch alternator) the specs are a little tighter (5A load @ 3000rpm) at 13.7-14.1v with a cold regulator and 13.5-14.1v with a warm reg.(after driving 15mins.+).
Ignoring the figures though - if the car starts and runs OK and the battery doesn't go flat in normal use there is probably nothing wrong. As with everything in life there are huge "normal" variences - so don't get hung up on whether 13.6 is any worse than 13.8 (or whatever).
Mac.