Checking the alternator is charging the battery

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Black_Potato
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 774
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Colchester

Post Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:08 pm

Having recently done quite a bit or rewiring including replacing the Dash etc.. I want to check the alternator is charging the battery.

Is there a simple place I can test with a volt meter to confirm, or maybe another similar test.

Cheers

Richard
3x S14 Rightness....
Image
maxfield
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 15185
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mansfield

Post Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:11 pm

Stick your volt meter on the battery when the engine ia running. Should be somewhere between 13.8-14.4V
Image
maggspower
Turbo Farmer Tractor Driver
Posts: 2376
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Nowhere near South Wales, ok butt

Post Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:13 pm

Get a multi meter, check the voltage at the battery, should be somwhere around 12.5v

Next start the car, repeat the test with the car idleing. The reading should now be somewhere around 14v. This way you are checking the alterator and the wires in the charging circuit.

HTH
Black_Potato
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 774
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Colchester

Post Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:26 pm

That was obvious, there was me looking for something complicated
:mad:

Thanks.
3x S14 Rightness....
Image
milescook
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1285
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: The 'bran of Cwm

Post Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:41 pm

As you've done dash work, make sure the battery light is wired up otherwise it won't charge at all
The story so far... http://www.cookracing.co.uk/

Also please help the race budget by watching some videos :) https://www.youtube.com/cookracinguk