View Full Version : What does you Voltage Gauge read?
FormulaPro
03-13-2003, 13:33
I have already smoked the primary battery once...my voltage gauge typically reads one click below the line between 14 and 19 (16?). Seems a little high to me, I always thought 14.4.
Y'all?
TIA
Keith M.
JimWilson
03-13-2003, 14:30
What does my voltage gauge read? Mostly Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Maxim and 4Wheel and Off Road. Why, what does your's read? :D :D
Mine, for the most part, stays a shade over 14.
Jim Cobler
03-13-2003, 14:50
I plugged a digital volt meter into my lighter and found that just after start up I get a little over 9 volts. When the heater on the fuel filter and other start up stuff goes off, it jumps to about 14.4. However, after I drive awhile (15 to 20 Min.), mine will read about 15.9. I only have a little over 14,000 on my truck but so far no problems.
You guys that have dual alternators, does your start up volts stay in the 9 volt area?
[ 03-13-2003: Message edited by: Jim Cobler ]</p>
Colorado Kid
03-13-2003, 18:04
Jim (Cobler)descibes how mine acts.
I'm under the impression that the ECM regulates the voltage, so what it does is "on purpose".
I'm confused by your "primary battery" refference.
The two batteries on a D-max equipped truck are wired in parrallel, infact both positive leads and the fusible link from the alternator all come together under the little plastic cover of the "Jump Start" terminal. To me this means they share all loads, and there is no Primary and Aux. as there would be with an isolated camper battery.
This means that it is advisable to replace the batteries in pairs.
As to Jim's dual alternator question, my buddy who has them claims he does not see the low voltage after start up that the rest of us do, just right around 14V. His voltage runs just a whisker under the 16V (if that's what it is) mark as well, when well warmed up.
Has anyone else observed that it seems like the voltage runs highest in cold weather? Mine showed above 16V when it was about -15*F up by Silverthorn on a recent trip home from Grand Junction. :confused:
On edit, I guess I should specify which Jim described how my truck acts... :rolleyes:
[ 03-13-2003: Message edited by: Colorado Kid ]</p>
BigLakeDMAX
03-13-2003, 19:10
I just added the second alternator about two weeks ago. Prior to doing so, the guage would read slightly below 12v for a minute or so following a cold start. It would then climb to about 16v. I've checked with a meter and my actual volts are 14.6v - just right, so the guage is inaccurate. Since adding the second alternator, the voltage climbs steadily to 16v in 3 - 5 seconds, following a cold start (down to -12F).
I've also noticed higher voltage readings on this truck, and other vehicles, in cold weather. I have always attributed this to a cooler alternator and wiring = less resistance = higher voltage. I asked the electrical tech at my dealership about this and he confirmed that is exactly what happens.
FirstDiesel
03-13-2003, 19:33
FormulaPro
Why not just put a meter on the battery terminals and measure it. Then you'll know the real voltage at the battery.
My guess is that you had a bad battery. I don't think our trucks have such a thing as a primary battery, they are in parallel. If your output voltage was too high you would like ruin both batteries.
The "electrical tech" is wrong. The change in resistance in the wiring is negligable over the temperature range involved.
The real answer is that lead acid storage cells require a different float voltage over temperature. It's been a long time since I had to design a regulator so these numbers may be off a little, but...
At 0
FormulaPro
03-14-2003, 06:40
Sorry 'bout the "primary battery" reference...that's what the incompetant service writer called it. They replaced the battery on the driver's side front. I will put a voltage meter on the terminals this weekend.
Keith M.
TSimpler
03-14-2003, 07:37
:D I ordered my truck with two alt's. at start my voltige will drop down, sometimes as low as 9.5 volts. It then begines a steady climb to 14.7volts (I have a turbotimer with a Digital Volt gauge). Worst case it will take 20 seconds to reach 14.7 if I touch the throttle it gets there in about 5 seconds...
Trent
Still, BigLakeDMAX is correct. The colder the wire is, the less resistance. Since there is less resistance, there is less of voltage drop. So you would be getting more voltage. What affect the temperatue of the wire is mostly the air temperature. That is why in NEC they have different calculations depending on air temperature. Also the amount of current being draw through the wire do affect the wire temperature too.
Does anyone else see a slight drop in voltage followed by a climb to normal voltage range (slightly above 14V) while coasting to a stop with the headlights on at night?
Alright reading all these messages I have a similar question. Right after cold starting (not really cold starting..high 30s) my truck, I get the message "Battery Not Charging" coming across the Driver info center. It doesnt come back on after Ive been driving a while. Is this a problem with one of the batteries losing life already? Truck is just 3 months old. Or is this just a big drop in voltage on starting that is tricking the computer into thinking that the battery is dead? Thanks
I have never seen that message before.
Check the little battery check "eye" on the batteries. They should both be green.
JimWilson
03-20-2003, 21:32
No, you should not be seeing that message on your DIC. (okay fellas, have at it! :D tongue.gif :D )
Take it to the dealer and let him have a look. Turn your head and cough? Sorry, I couldn't resist... :D
Somebody is always a comedian. Yeah the eyes on the battery are both green, I think Ill drop by autozone or a place like that, they will check the batteries for free. See if a cell has gone bad in one or something. Thanks for the answers, just wanted to see if anyone else had seen that message.
braebyrn
01-13-2006, 15:12
So what ended up happening with the "Battery not Charging"? on the info center. That is what mine is doing, and I replaced both batteries and the alternator.
Rick
Bora, I have the same issue with mine. Does not happen very often so dealer would never be able to find it. Good to know that it happens on somebody else.
With the voltages from 9.5 and slowly raising to 14 volts, the glow plugs takes a lot of amps. this is at a cold start.
my started going to 14 volt right after i cold start and i also had some codes showing up. talk to the chev dealer and he told me to check the 175 amp fuse. the fuse was bad and i had to replace it, and know everything is working ok know and no codes.
Still have the message that displays "Battery not charging" right after I start. It does that just about everytime I start it now. Only way to get it to stop is by letting the wiper fluid go low. Now it just says "Check wiper fluid" when I start it. But (knock on wood) no battery or alternator problems so far.
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