Our old "cheap" test was to disconnect the positive battery cable while the
engine was running, so it was powered by nothing but the alternator. Loading
it down with lights, heater fan etc, if it kept running well meant that the
alternator was putting out plenty of juice.
I am not sure how "safe" it is however to do this while the engine is
running and the battery charging/venting - sparks might cause an explosion.
The correct thing to do is to pull the alternator & have it tested.
I am also told that if you measure across the battery without the engine
running, you should get a little over twelve volts. But this assumes your
battery is charged at least somewhat. Doing the same measurement with the
engine running should get you fourteen to fifteen volts. But, a bad
battery/bad cell would generally have an impact on both of these readings,
making it imprecise to determine whether you have a bad alternator or
battery.
Clear as mud now?
Rick Gregory
'74 Triumph Spitfire FM15447UO
'69 Austin Healey Sprite HAN9U81988G
Great Falls, Montana
http://www.spitfire.gregory.net
-----Original Message-----
From: JohnZissler@aol.com [mailto:JohnZissler@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 6:46 AM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Alternator Test
Hi all, I was advising another lister about testing his alternator, but I
have forgotten how to do it, and I cant find the post that I originally got
the info from, can someone put me right on how to do it please. I know I
need
14.5 volts and I have a digital voltmeter. Other than
that............................?
Happy Spitting...................John (in the United Kingdom)
Spit Mk II (1966) in bits..or as some would say (in restoration)
Spit Mk III donor car ( I am nearly a collector)
Mk IV chassis with all running gear.......(I AM a collector)
Outgoing mail is Virus Free.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus-Guard (http://www.grisoft.com
/// spitfires@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|