The best way to find out what is going on is to attach a digital
voltmeter to the battery terminals and watch what is happening.
First - charge the battery, and leave it overnight. The voltage should
be about 12.5 volts, certainly NOT below 12. There are ways to tell the
condityion of a bettery with a hydrometer (specific gravity of the acid)
but the voltmeter test of good enough.
Next - run the car. With the ammeter showing the fauly, what is the
voltage on the battery - 14.4 volts or less is OK (the regs are
probably set to about 14 volts - I'm not sure). If the voltage goes
above 14.4 as you rev the engine the reg is not regulating correctly.
**DO Make sure that all the wires are good as if the wiring to the reg
is lose or broken the reg cannot "see" the actual voltage in the system
, thinks it is lower than it is and can cause over voltage. This is not
a fault of the regulator.
The ammeter shows what is going into the battery - this will vary
depending on temperature and battery condition for a given voltage.
John
Paul Miller wrote:
>
> Thanks Jan.
> The battery was in the car when I bought it, so it must be at least 4 years
> old. It's always worked fine though...
> How can I tell if it's on its way out?
> Paul.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jumpin'jan" <servaij@cris.com>
> To: "Paul Miller" <paul.miller@genie.co.uk>
> Cc: "Alpines List" <alpines@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 5:29 AM
> Subject: Re:
>
> > Paul,
> > The only thing that registers with me is possibly the battery might be
> > going. How old is the battery? I would give anything to tour Belgium in
> > my Alpine.
> > Jan
> >
> > --
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