From: Fred Martin (mung@in-touch.net)
Date: Mon Jan 17 2005 - 08:23:48 PST
It's my understanding that to quick test an alternator to see if it is
putting out a charge...you take your pocket knife (or some other ferrous
metal object) and place it on the small bearing cap in the middle of the
back of the alternator while the engine is running. If it magnetically
attracts to the cap...it is charging.. My knowledge from there reverts
to slightly under Bill's. Fred Martin
Buzz wrote:
>Bill,
>To check your alternator output, read the voltage across the batteries
>with the engine running. The voltage should be at least 28V, more like
>28.4 to 28.6. Each so called, 12V battery should read about half of the
>total charge voltage, or 14V plus. I.E. the voltage on my car battery
>with the engine running is 14.2V.
>I do work in the general aviation business and they have pretty much
>changed over to 14V or 28V, but the automotive market is still stuck at
>12V and 24V.
>Educational opportunity follows..... When you read the voltage of a
>disconnected battery you are reading a no load or, "surface charge".
>To get an accurate reading battery voltage should be read under load,
>this can be done at a shop that is equipped with the proper test
>equipment, and a KNOWLEDGEABLE, hard to find these days, technician.
>BTW, you're not a moron, you are ignorant.
>
>"Ignorance can be educated, stupid is forever"
>
>Buzz
>
>
>
>
>
>On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 12:45:28 -0500, you wrote:
>
>
>>Just went outside and verified the following:
>>
>>Outside temp is at this moment 0.7 deg. C, 33.2 deg. F.
>>
>>I checked the batteries with digital multi-meter. No charger on either
>>since running the truck yesterday. One battery showed 12.8 Volts the
>>
>>
>other
>
>
>>12.9 Volts.
>>
>>I started the truck without any other electrical devices operating
>>
>>
>except
>
>
>>the fuel pump. It fired right off ... whew ... <grin>.
>>
>>I shut it right down and checked the batteries. Both within 0.1 volts
>>
>>
>of
>
>
>>each other (I have a switch between the batteries which I turn off
>>
>>
>between
>
>
>>them while checking the batteries)
>>
>>Both batteries had dropped 0.4 volts. Now showing 12.4 and 12.5 volts
>>respectively.
>>
>>AND most importantly, I woke up and checked the charging system. Mine
>>
>>
>is an
>
>
>>alternator. The bolt holes are on the firewall for the voltage
>>
>>
>regulator
>
>
>>and I now remember wondering what would have been mounted there.
>>
>>Again, I am not very literate with alternators. Can this be repaired
>>
>>
>by a
>
>
>>moron? If so, please advise me how I should do this. I am already
>>certified as the moron who will attempt the work. If it is repairable
>>
>>
>I
>
>
>>might be able to find a shop locally, I hope, if it is beyond my
>>
>>
>talents.
>
>
>>Any idea right off hand what an alternator will cost?
>>
>>
>>Thanks again, Bill K.
>>
>>
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat May 07 2005 - 20:39:28 PDT