13.8 Volts at idle,is it normal ?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=4939
Printed Date: May 11, 2024 at 8:20 AM
Topic: 13.8 Volts at idle,is it normal ?
Posted By: Dan M C
Subject: 13.8 Volts at idle,is it normal ?
Date Posted: October 29, 2002 at 7:52 PM
Hi,my BMW at idle put's out 13.8 V,that's what my cap shows and my digital tester,is this normal amount or there should be more ?,my system consists of 4 amps,i do have a red top Optima and 2 capacitors,also even when the motor is reved up the voltage is very constant,how normal is that ? Thank you ! ------------- Dan M C
Replies:
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: October 29, 2002 at 7:55 PM
yep, thats dead on!
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: October 29, 2002 at 8:19 PM
Some systems idle at 14.4 or 14.8 while other are lower. ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: magoo_ns
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 12:18 PM
Yep, bang on. The constancy tells you your battery is probably in good shape too. Remember though, voltage is not the best indicator of alternator condition. An amp probe and carbon pile will tell you more. Stay away from transistorized battery testers, sometimes older technology is better.
Posted By: chuntag95
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 1:31 PM
My dual batt diesel runs at 14.5. Depending on make and model, you can see anywhere from 13.5 to 14.8 Volts. More than that and you risk damage to the battery. If you only see 12.5 or something, your charging system has a problem.
-------------
Chris
Posted By: magcmedcin
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 6:59 PM
14.8 is the perfect amount of volt's for a system. most amp's are desighned and tested at 14.8 . 13.8 is good better then some. but if you want to get the most out of you're amps 14.8 is the way to go.
-------------
Thomas
Posted By: magcmedcin
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 7:00 PM
14.8 is the perfect amount of volt's for a system. most amp's are desighned and tested at 14.8 . 13.8 is good better then some. but if you want to get the most out of you're amps 14.8 is the way to go.
-------------
Thomas
Posted By: djfearny2
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 7:05 PM
actually as many designers of top brands such as jbl, jl and etc they have said that top volts for there tests are 13.5 due to the fact that most people dont use caps or special altenators so they dont want there product the cause of a malfunction. even the top amps are tested low volltage. think about it the less voltage needed the more the car can reproduce power to supply the equipment.
-------------
Jon
Installer/Help Technician
---coral springs florida---
mecp certification is not always needed. I have it and it has not helped me out at all. my experience out shines it.
Posted By: magcmedcin
Date Posted: October 30, 2002 at 7:09 PM
most brands actually like ma audio, volfenhag, xtant, and soundstream all test and desighn at 14.8... so i guess i stand corrected some desighn at 14.8 and some don't like jbl and jl audio.
-------------
Thomas
Posted By: 91blaze
Date Posted: November 04, 2002 at 11:54 PM
lower brand amps test there stuff at high voltage so they can advertise a higher output. upper name brands test at lower, more constant voltage and put out even more when the voltage is up above what they were tested at.
|