volt meter drain charge question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 8, 2004 | 10:06 PM

-jeremy

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

From: Philadelphia

volt meter drain charge question

I am a newbie to electrical work and I have a two part question:

1. On the volt meter, to the left it says "D" and the right it says "C". Is this for Discharge and Charge or Direct and Current or is it something else?

2. The reason I ask is that my 91 E150 I6 will start and run fine with a charged battery, but when given gas, the volt meter jumps to the "C" side, the lights get brighter and everything generally gets more electrical power. At idle, the van's volt meter is about 1/4 of the way toward the "C" when it used to lie about dead center.
I recently had the battery cables replaced, new voltage regulator and alternator and the battery tests good. The battery does test good however it drains completely overnight. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I have done very little in the way of electrical work?

I'm frustrated with this one.

Nov 9, 2004 | 09:30 AM

Franklin2

Moderator

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 57,025

Likes: 2,756

From: Virginia

Quote:

1. On the volt meter, to the left it says "D" and the right it says "C". Is this for Discharge and Charge or Direct and Current or is it something else?

What you are looking at is not a voltmeter, but an ammeter, or in other words, a guage that reads the direction and amount of current flow. This guage monitors the flow in and out of the battery. So "D" means discharge, which means you are using power out of the battery. "C" means charge, so you are putting power back into the battery.
Power will flow in and out of the battery depending on the conditions and loads the electrical system is in. If you have the headlights, wipers, and defrost on high, it is normal for some discharge from the battery when the engine is at idle. If you notice the lights are very dim at idle, and you don't have any other loads on the system, then your alt belt may need to be a little tighter, or replaced, or your idle speed may be too slow. If your idle speed seems a little slow, you may need to take apart your throttle body and clean the gum out of it.

Quote:

The battery does test good however it drains completely overnight

Try the test below to see if you have a drain on the system. If you do, try pulling fuses to see if you can get the light to go out(the door has to be closed or the dome lights will ruin the test).