How many volts should a voltage regulator put out?

The best way to test a voltage regulator is with a multimeter, and what you do is you put your multimeter clamps directly on the battery terminals. Positive read to positive and black to negative. And you said it to voltage, and with the car off, you should have a little over 12 volts.

What should the voltage be on an alternator?

Alternator Testing: What Is The Correct Voltage? For some alternators, it’s normal to see as low as 13 volts. For some, a constant 13.6 volts is an indication of a problem.

What does it mean when battery and alternator don’t match?

Also the voltage at the battery and the voltage at the alternator should be within 0.5v of each other. If the voltage at the battery and alternator don’t match. For example the battery reads 12v and alternator reads 14v. This means that there is an issue with wiring. While applying the same conditions as above.

How can I tell if my alternator is bad?

If the voltage is higher than that examine all the negative cabling for problems. Preform the same test with the positive side. Place the red lead on the positive battery terminal (if possible dig it into the battery post, not the terminal). Place the black lead on the bad post of the alternator.

When to check the field wire for an alternator?

For example, if the alternator is not putting out any power, check the field wire before ordering a new alternator. It is just easier to fix simple things, even if it is not always easier to find simple problems.

Alternator Testing: What Is The Correct Voltage? For some alternators, it’s normal to see as low as 13 volts. For some, a constant 13.6 volts is an indication of a problem.

What causes an alternator to over charge a battery?

Measure voltage across the battery with your DMM. You should get 0.5 to 2 volts higher than base voltage. If you are getting more than 2 volts above base voltage, most likely your alternator is over-charging the battery or the battery is faulty. Other potential problems are a faulty voltage regulator or a problem in the charging system wiring.

When to troubleshoot an unusual voltage system drop?

Troubleshooting for Unusual Voltage System Drops Usually, the first sign that your charging system is in trouble is a “battery,” “ALT,” or “CHARGE” warning light illuminating on your instrument panel while driving. It means that for some reason, the alternator has stopped charging the battery and your car is running on battery power.

How to test the battery and voltage regulator on a Harley?

Step 1. Check the voltage of the battery while it is disconnected from the bike using the multimeter. The volts should be no less than 12 volts.