Alternator problem? Voltmeter readings.

[SteveOS3]

I've not worried too much about voltmeter readings before as hardly ever drive at night. But having gone for a pair of the wipac quad-optic lenses and upgrade bulbs I haven't noticed any discernible difference in the brightness of the lights. Could the alternator be on the way out?

When idling, after the throttle blip to clear the ignition light, my voltmeter reads just above the little white dot.

With fan on single speed it drops just below, if I put lights on dipped beam it sinks just into the red area below 11v.

The battery is always ok when starting and I use a trickle charge if I am not driving for a few weeks.

I have quite a lot of night driving coming up through mid Wales and need the lights and the heater working....

Any advice on whether this is normal or checking the alertnator would be appreciated,

Thanks

SteveO

[chiefyo]

Put a multimeter across the battery terminals and start engine, as you know when happy, rev engine to bring in alternator. Then check reading at meter with nothing electrical turned, on you should get a reading of 13.5 volts or above, then start turning things on to load the alternator the voltage reading on meter should not drop below 12v, if it does you have a charging problem. You can also check mutimeter readings against car gauge to see if it is accurate.

[SteveOS3]

Cheers, will not be able to check until I'm back home on Saturday morning but will post the results.

Steve

Edited by SteveOS3 on Tuesday 6th December 14:52

[ketvrin]

Theres also a mod you can do (when you know your alternator is working ok) to install relays for the lights so your switch operates the relays and the power to the lights comes direct through the relays to your lights... if you use new cables from the relays to the lights this should ensure that you dont suffer any voltage drop going via the old route... I'm sure someone like Barkychoc could provide you with a wiring diagram if that doesnt make sense to you...

I fitted the same Wipacs on mine along with some 90% extra brilliance H4 bulbs from Halfrauds and noticed a significant improvement over the original setup.

good luck

K

Edited to korekt spelin...

Edited by ketvrin on Tuesday 6th December 19:47

[phillpot]

ketvrin said:

when you know your altimeter is working ok

Yeah, my lights appear a bit dim above 1000 feet !

[ketvrin]

Duh! Where did I get that from ?

K

[Barkychoc]

SteveOS3 said:

I've not worried too much about voltmeter readings before as hardly ever drive at night. But having gone for a pair of the wipac quad-optic lenses and upgrade bulbs I haven't noticed any discernible difference in the brightness of the lights. Could the alternator be on the way out?

When idling, after the throttle blip to clear the ignition light, my voltmeter reads just above the little white dot.

With fan on single speed it drops just below, if I put lights on dipped beam it sinks just into the red area below 11v.

The battery is always ok when starting and I use a trickle charge if I am not driving for a few weeks.

I have quite a lot of night driving coming up through mid Wales and need the lights and the heater working....

Any advice on whether this is normal or checking the alertnator would be appreciated,

Thanks

SteveO

Your description sounds identical to how my V8S was.
I just considered the voltmeter to be useless.
I never had a flat battery anyway.