Club 80-90 Forums

hi just put a volt meter on my alternater and it reads about 14 volts is this right or is it on the way out thanks.the engine is on tickover.

smile83 wrote: hi just put a volt meter on my alternater and it reads about 14 volts is this right or is it on the way out thanks.the engine is on tickover.

That's fine. Should rise a bit as you come off idle, but shouldn't rise beyond about 14.5v.

Original Bosch/Beru specification for this era of Bosch alternator was 13.9 - 14.2 volts. if the regulator brush pack has been changed at some point the output might be a little higher. Aftermarket units are often set at 14.5volts to better charge newer calcium/silver sealed battery types that are the normal nowadays and have pretty much replaced the older lead/acid that these vans originally had fitted.

Martin

California Dreamin wrote:Original Bosch/Beru specification for this era of Bosch alternator was 13.9 - 14.2 volts. if the regulator brush pack has been changed at some point the output might be a little higher. Aftermarket units are often set at 14.5volts to better charge newer calcium/silver sealed battery types that are the normal nowadays and have pretty much replaced the older lead/acid that these vans originally had fitted.

I thought the preferred charge voltages were 14.4v for the older batteries and 14.8v for the newer chemistries?