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Alternator output voltage

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  • 28-04-2024 10:24pm
    #1
    JimmyTee
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭


    I'm looking to find out what voltage output others are getting from their Alternator on tick over and no load. I'm getting 15.0 - 15.2. I think it may be a bit high.
    2010 FORD Galaxy Mk2 (WA6) 2.0 TDCi 163 hp



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    #2
    JamBur
    Registered Users Posts: 837 ✭✭✭JamBur


    Sounds high alright. Why are you checking it, have you had electronic failures?

    14.5 to high 14 is normal range



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    #3
    Shoog
    Registered Users Posts: 4,470 ✭✭✭Shoog


    Yep thats high should be around 14.5V

    Theres a voltage regulator on the alternator and thats probably blown. Don't think you can get them separately. Might well be cooking your battery.

    how are you getting your reading - if its a LED voltage meter that you added they can be quite inaccurate so you need to confirm it with a voltmeter.



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    #4
    mk7r
    Registered Users Posts: 725 ✭✭✭mk7r


    Ford and many other manufacturers use smart charge alternators, so anything from 12-18v can be considered normal depending on what the ecm is requesting



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    #5
    JimmyTee
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭JimmyTee


    Had a flat battery

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122075522#Comment_122075522

    Because I had a flat battery (7.3 volts) the other morning for no apparent reason. The car also seems to throw up the odd error from time to time lights failure, misbehaving Bluetooth, low key battery etc.



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    #6
    JimmyTee
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭JimmyTee


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122075618#Comment_122075618

    Good quality Multimeter



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    #7
    JimmyTee
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭JimmyTee


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122075628#Comment_122075628

    This is why posted the question. I'm unsure if my alternator is bad, it's time for a battery change anyway I just didn't want to fry a new battery or electrics.



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    #8
    DRedford
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭DRedford


    16v is the highest *continuous* tolerable limit for most lead acid batteries. It is not ideal as it tends to boil the battery over time (which needs to be topped up with distilled water).

    Fine for the short term but needs to be addressed.



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    #9
    JimmyTee
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭JimmyTee


    An update to this, I replaced the battery and the alternator output dropped to 14.9. so it appears the alternator was compensating for a bad battery. Some other electrical gremlins also disappeared.



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