Thread: tuned alternator?
View Single Post
  #9  
Old Tue, June 14th, 2011, 03:26 PM
Jackpine's Avatar
Jackpine Jackpine is offline
PHP Groupie
  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Among Elk, Deer and Javalinas on the Mogollon Rim in Aridzona
Posts: 3,243
Jackpine is a name known to allJackpine is a name known to allJackpine is a name known to allJackpine is a name known to allJackpine is a name known to allJackpine is a name known to all
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmt0645 View Post
I already have a 250 amp mechman alt but the PCM limits it to 14 volts. I was only looking to go to about 14.5 volts
OK, I don't really think 14.5V is a good idea. 14.0V means your battery is fully charged, or you would be reading something lower. I think 14.5 would try to overcharge the battery, and that, of course would hurt it. A 14.0 Volt output also tells me your alternator is fully up to the task.

Finally, your electronics might start to suffer at 14.5 Volts.

To see if your battery is charged, you need to have an Ammeter in series on one of the battery cables. If the Ammeter reads near zero, it means it is not accepting a further charge because it's fully charged. At a resting state, disconnected, and with the surface charge from charging worn off, the battery should show about 12.7 no-load Volts if it's fully charged.

- Jack
Reply With Quote