[Shotimes] Battery/Alternator/Voltage question

[Paul Nimz]

Under load means with all the electrical accessories on.  Headlights, fan,
A/C compressor everything you can get.  An alternator in excellent shape
will deliver 14.3+V at 1500 rpm.  Anything less and the brushes and/or
regulator are needing replaced, which by the way is cheap and easy to do.
This should be irregardless of the battery condition.

On my '97 they are one piece, cost $40 and would take 10 minutes to change
on the bench.

Paul Nimz
'97 TR SHO
'93 EG mtx SHO


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Tatro" <stevetatro_shotimes@att.net>
To: "'Paul Nimz'" <niks@dlogue.net>; <stevetatro@att.net>; "'SHOtimes'"
<shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 1:58 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Battery/Alternator/Voltage question


> When you say "under load" you mean you had the engine running while in
> park (neutral) at 1500rpm or you monitored that voltage while driving
> around at 1500rpm?
>
> The 13.5V I measured was while the car was idling (900rpm).
>
> Are you suggesting that if I can't measure in the 14.5V range under load
> then my alternator may be going?  Not that it would surprise me given
> its age.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Paul Nimz
> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 1:24 PM
> To: stevetatro@att.net; SHOtimes
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Battery/Alternator/Voltage question
>
>
> My recent experience was a14V and less under a load and at +1500 rpm.  I
> was concerned and was told this is ok but one week later the alternator
> failed.
>
> With the new alternator, I get 14.3V to 14.5V with a full load and at
> +1500 rpm.
>
> 12.6V is good for an open circuit battery.  The higher the voltage the
> stronger the acid.
>
> Paul Nimz
> '97 TR SHO
> '93 EG mtx SHO
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Tatro" <stevetatro_shotimes@att.net>
> To: "SHOtimes" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 12:02 PM
> Subject: [Shotimes] Battery/Alternator/Voltage question
>
>
> > What's up.
> >
> > Got a stupid question, actually more than one.  What kind of VDC
> > should I get from my battery, with the car off?  I measured it after
> > driving around and it was 12.6V.  Also, what should the voltage be
> > with the car running?  I measured 13.5V.  Also, again, what voltage
> > should I expect when I go out to my car today after it's sat out in
> > the cold for 10 hours?
> >
> > What I'm trying to figure out here is if there's a simple way to
> > diagnose if the battery is good or going bad, and the same regarding
> > the alternator.  I'm assuming if it sits all day the voltage will
> > drop, and if it drops too much then my battery may not be holding a
> > charge properly.  Also, if the voltage measured is too low with the
> > car running, do I possibly need an alternator rebuild?
> >
> > Anyone?
> >
> > Thanks as usual.
> >
> > Steve Tatro
> > Red/Black '93 with 164k miles
> > Cincinnati, Ohio
> > www.picturetrail.com/stevetatro
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> > Shotimes@autox.team.net http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
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