13.5 volts from alternator - Too low?

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Author Message   Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 470 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 03:14 pm:    Is mine about to fall of its mortal coil (sorry Monty Python Fans) Tach still running...   Phil deGuzman (Powerslide) New Member Username: Powerslide Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 04:34 pm:    I believe that is about right, around 13.8 VDC. We only have a 12V battery so that should be fine.   Brent Fox (Bfox) Member Username: Bfox Post Number: 142 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 04:49 pm:    At idle mine puts out about 13.7v. It gets up a little higher with some rpm's. Brent   Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1091 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:02 pm:    Mine reads 13.8-14.0 V according to a digital multimeter.   Donald McFarlane (Dsmcf) New Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2003 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:06 pm:    shuffle, shurely   thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 461 Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:08 pm:    most will read from 13.5 to 14.5 based on RPM and amp draw at time of test.   Donald McFarlane (Dsmcf) New Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2003 Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:16 pm:    Assuming there is a battery attached to said alternator with a relatively thick cable (as there is) then the condition of the battery will have a pretty big say in this reading. (Exercise for the unbelievers. Replace the battery with a short circuit and repeat the reading. (Caution: keep a fire extinguisher on hand when running this test)) If you are concerned about the condition of the alternator I would focus more on its ability to source current. An ammeter showing charge/discharge rate of the battery is a damn useful thing to have. I am not that familiar with alternator failure modes, but offhand I would have thought that failures would be more black and white than a gradual degradation.