how much volt shd i be getting? i m getting 10-11 right now and i always have to jump my battery everytime i want to start up, by the way i have a 81 with 429 engine ... 4x4... what s the highest amp i can get for my truck?

 

I have a 77 model Ford that I replaced the ALT with a 130 amp. I was told that was the highest rating you can get, I also replaced the Voltage regulator that was mounted on the frame with matching voltage at the same time. I wanted the most output possible to run any high amp lighting and enough amps left over to power my inverter (120v ac) I had also done the same thing to my 86 Ford. The voltage charging is 13.5 v dc. on both systems. The amps and regulators (the 86 has a built in voltage regulator) Plug n Play. No special wiring needed.

 

You should get between 13.5 V and 15.5 V by the book but almost every one I have ever seen it right in the 14 to 14.25 range.

Good Luck,

Lee

 

14.4 is about all you're gonna want if it's computer controlled..... anymore you'll start to see electronics going bad prematurely.

 

The voltage is relied (related) to the amps that the system(s) is CHARGING. It doesn't matter how much dc volt. is... if the dc voltage is regulated (by the voltage regulator(hint...regulated it the key here)...(trying to keep it simple also)being measured unless the battery cannot take anymore than the battery can keep at any one point in time.

I suspect the battery has a defective cell or the age is quite older (nearing the end of its life cycle...batterys do go bad over time, even when they are not charged correctly ( shorter charging events, low charging times at lower speeds makes for less time for a full charge...lots of stop an go driving, short running times...)

The amp is regulated so as not to exceed the amount of amps to charge an maintain the effectiveness of the starting circuit. ( a simple test of earlier models is to disconnect the neg side battery post, if it runs the alt is charging, keeping the circuit alive so the engine can run...)0f course don't disconnect it this way on computer controlled EFI systems unless you want to spike your auto's computer..(with a arc at the battery post when you reconnect it)

The amp is there to keep the systems from running all the time from the battery, no charge means dead battery soon)

I'm sure my system is putting out more amps than I previously stated, Lee and Pfogle are also correct, many charging systems put out different amount of useable amps for each applications on 12v dc systems...I use an inverter to regulate an 120 volt ac circuit in a dc voltage application...i.e. key machines, floresent lighting, grinder, fan an so on....the battery(s) keep the inverter going...even while in the off charging state.