What if alternator voltage is too high?
What if alternator voltage is too high?
Alternators that overcharge will typically produce excess voltage to the battery, making the battery case swell up, become very hot and lose its electrolyte through boiling. Improperly jump-starting the vehicle can send a surge through the battery that destroys one or more cells in the battery or shorts it out.
Why is my alternator putting out 17 volts?
It may be that the regulator is packing up and the alternator is going to max. unregulated output because of a bad battery output voltage (alternator input) connection between the battery and the alternator.
Why is my alternator putting out 18 volts?
18 volts is a bit high. It is possible that your rebuilt alternator has a faulty regulator.
Why would my alternator be overcharging?
An overcharging automotive alternator can be the fault of the voltage regulator, an accidental electrical path causing the field windings to be powered independently of the regulator (bypassed) or the sense circuit to the regulator not properly providing the correct battery voltage to the regulator.
Is 14.5 volts too high for alternator?
If the alternator is working well, your multi-meter should read somewhere in the vicinity of 14 volts (typically 13.8-14.2). If it is reading excessively higher than 14 volts (greater than 15 volts) it is possible that the voltage regulator on your alternator is faulty or going bad.
Is 16 volts too high?
For some alternators, it’s normal to see as low as 13 volts. For some, a constant 13.6 volts is an indication of a problem. For others, it’s normal to see as high as 16 volts for long stretches. Still, it’s perfectly normal for others to see the alternator not charge at all intermittently.
Why does my volt gauge reads high?
Higher than 15 volts indicates a fault in the charging system’s voltage regulator or related circuits. If it’s substantially excessive, this can cause electrical system and/or battery damage.
How do you tell if an alternator is overcharging?
Symptoms of Your Car Alternator Overcharging:
- Car Battery Voltage Gauge Reading is High. You notice a high voltage reading on your cars vehicle’s dashboard.
- Car Battery Gets Hot When Charging.
- Your Headlights Burn Out Quickly.
- Your Car Battery is Bulging on Sides.
Why is my battery voltage so high?
The voltage of your battery might fluctuate due to a simple problem of loose wires and connections. Because loose connections impede the flow of electricity, your battery may be improperly charged or discharged.
Should my alternator put out 15 volts?
To answer your question, yes, 15 volts is too high. Most car alternators that charge your battery after every start and provide power while the engine is running are usually regulated to between 13 and 14.0 volts.
