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auto volt gauge reading


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catken 
Member - Posts: 11
Member spacespace
Joined: August 04, 2011
Location: Minnesota, United States
Posted: October 14, 2011 at 9:48 AM / IP Logged  
Just installed a volt gauge on my Colorado V8. It reads 15.5 while driving. Been told it seems a bit high. If so what can I do about it.
Phreak480 
Copper - Posts: 84
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Joined: June 12, 2003
Location: United States
Posted: October 14, 2011 at 11:32 AM / IP Logged  
have you checked this reading against a known good voltmeter (the handheld kind one uses for diagnosing electronics, not the kind you mount in your dashboard)? Start there and see what you get.
jmelton86 
Gold - Posts: 1,228
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Joined: February 07, 2007
Location: South Carolina, United States
Posted: October 14, 2011 at 11:41 AM / IP Logged  
Does the meter have a calibration knob on it somewhere?
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
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Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: October 14, 2011 at 4:51 PM / IP Logged  
Are you measuring across the battery?
It is for the battery that the voltage exists, hence typically a no greater than 14.4V setting long-term. (High 14V and even 15V is not uncommon after initial cranking/starting.)
It may be however that you have a bad (alternator to) engine to body/chassis(/battery) ground so the alternator outputs 15V but the battery only sees (say 14.2V), though that is less common these days where alternators have integral regulators. (It won't happen with single wire D+ alternators, but can on alternators with the additional Sense wire).
Get another voltmeter (DMM) and confirm your meter's readings, and check that the alternator output is close to the battery voltage.
If still high, then it's a bad voltage regulator.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
Pot Metal spacespace
Joined: January 09, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: October 15, 2011 at 7:07 AM / IP Logged  
Blown any light bulbs recently?
catken 
Member - Posts: 11
Member spacespace
Joined: August 04, 2011
Location: Minnesota, United States
Posted: October 15, 2011 at 7:53 AM / IP Logged  
Thanks for the replies. Sorry about the duplicate question. I'll put a meter on the fuse that I tapped into and see what kind of a reading I get.
catken 
Member - Posts: 11
Member spacespace
Joined: August 04, 2011
Location: Minnesota, United States
Posted: October 15, 2011 at 2:54 PM / IP Logged  
Checked volts at batt. and is now showing about a 14.8 under load. Does this sound better.
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
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Location: Australia
Posted: October 15, 2011 at 9:25 PM / IP Logged  
Yep. Still a bit high for the battery unless perhaps just after starting.
Normal long term maximum for a 12V battery is 14.4V (at room temp - ie 25C, 75F) whether loaded or unloaded.
But having a higher voltage for other electrics can be a problem - ie, blow bulbs, radio, ECU, gauges etc if ~16V or more.
catken 
Member - Posts: 11
Member spacespace
Joined: August 04, 2011
Location: Minnesota, United States
Posted: October 18, 2011 at 7:16 AM / IP Logged  
Thanks for all your replies. ken

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