Voltmeter question
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,341
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
In playing with alternators, I've run a DVOM at the base of my windshield hooked to bat,
Driven & watched with different things running & it responds pretty accurately.
I'd say anything 5-10 degrees past center to right is 13+
Anything 5-10 degrees left of center is 12 & below.
Just my personal observations, not to be taken as fact.
Driven & watched with different things running & it responds pretty accurately.
I'd say anything 5-10 degrees past center to right is 13+
Anything 5-10 degrees left of center is 12 & below.
Just my personal observations, not to be taken as fact.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
In playing with alternators, I've run a DVOM at the base of my windshield hooked to bat,
Driven & watched with different things running & it responds pretty accurately.
I'd say anything 5-10 degrees past center to right is 13+
Anything 5-10 degrees left of center is 12 & below.
Just my personal observations, not to be taken as fact.
Driven & watched with different things running & it responds pretty accurately.
I'd say anything 5-10 degrees past center to right is 13+
Anything 5-10 degrees left of center is 12 & below.
Just my personal observations, not to be taken as fact.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,341
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
Yeah, mass manufacturing that was never suppose to live this long & be accurate.
But it somehow hangs in & does the job for the most part.
You stay over tween O-R consistently you probably got issues somewhere.
But it somehow hangs in & does the job for the most part.
You stay over tween O-R consistently you probably got issues somewhere.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 983
Likes: 49
From: Northern Kentucky
My dash gauge has actual numbers on it, but I wondered if they actually meant anything. Thus, the question!
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
Mine has i think 8 on the left and 18 on the right. And sandwiched between is NORMAL.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
It appears to be a real voltmeter. How accurate it is may be a different story.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
I've always found the volt meters on these trucks to be accurate, if you know your alternator is working confirmed by a volt meter at the battery, then the dash reading is your reference. If you're driving and the gauge drops from normal, then you can bet that the alternator has failed. That, and the battery light will come on......
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 805
I did the same thing when I was having charging issues this summer. On mine between the R and M is about 11vdc, M is 14ish and 18 and red zone is most definitely 18vdc. Funny how a 1/8 inch can be 3 volts then it takes a half inch to do another 4. Wonderful variances in tolerance lol.
Im not saying its right but its how they did it, which is frustrating to all hell
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