Alternator Experts needed

Hi:

When starting my car in the morning, the alternator does not immediately begin charging the battery.  It doesn't provide any output (as indicated on my dash gauge) until either of two things happen:

- I rev the engine a  few times to bring up the RPMs

- I let the engine idle for about 5 minutes

Then the alternator starts working fine, for hours at a time, until I stop the engine and park it for the night.  The whole cycle begins again in the morning.

The bearings are fine and the voltage regulator is relatively new.  It's an adjustable type and was set at the max setting, which is about 14.4 Volts.

Can anyone tell me why the althernator needs a "warm up" period?  Thanks in advance.

Most Alternators are never on all the time, most kick on at around 1000-15000 rpms to start charging the battery

If Alts were charging all the time, they would wear out very quickly as in the case of my former HO for my Civic, it died after 6 months cause it was active at 500rpm my idle speed is 850rpmJust a thought, im sure more people will comment on this soon

--Skold

2004 Honda Civic Ex 4Dr

Kenwood DDX-7015/W Nav

4 Fosgate T152C

Hifonics Brutus BX1500D

RE XXX 12 in a 4 Cube Snail Shell

skoldspuppy wrote: Most Alternators are never on all the time

Huh? Whenever your car is running a belt would be turning the alternator... so it would be 'on' so to speak. Perhaps the alternator doesn't reach 14v until a certain RPM, but the mechanical action of a magnet moving around another *will* produce a current. It .. ya know.. has to. Rewound alternators frequently burn up quickly.. not the result of being 'on' all the time, but the result of massive power loads and strain on the voltage regulator... all that heat really takes it to 'em when you start cramming 200-amps of output in a OEM case made for 90."I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

I have found the opposite of nyc951. I have noticed on the cars I have owned when I first crank it the alternator will show charging MORE for a while, then after it runs it will slowly (the gauge hand) will start to lower. Cranking will take some charge from the battery and the alternator will charge it back to normal, so to speak. It sounds to me as if the voltage regulator may be the problem: then again I'm no expert on this. '85 Toy

sedate wrote: skoldspuppy wrote: Most Alternators are never on all the time .

Im meant charging all the time

--Skold

2004 Honda Civic Ex 4Dr

Kenwood DDX-7015/W Nav

4 Fosgate T152C

Hifonics Brutus BX1500D

RE XXX 12 in a 4 Cube Snail Shell

it might be just the gauge that takes time to show voltage if you want to be sure get a volt meter and put it to your battery when the problem is happening and that way you'll eliminate the gauge and the wiring to the gauge. i've seen fords do this with both oil pressure and voltage. so check and make sure the gauge is working right by seeing what voltage is at the battery or directly from the alternator if accessable.JUST ONE MORE AMP!!!

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