onemoretruck

Yesterday I have installed two new batteries on my 94 2500 CDT and wonder if my voltmeter doesn't indicate something wrong in the charging system.
When I picked up the batteries I've checked them and both were indicating 12.6 volts right of the store's shelves.That should be pretty full charge value isn't it?
Anyway I've used the truck for first time with the new batteries,easy starting in spite of the cold temp,went for a short 25 miles run and I've noticed the meter indicatin always at a steady 14.5/15 volts markings on the guage.To me this tells me the alter. was always steadily at work charging the batteries...normal or not?Maybe if I would have put the batteries under charge before installing they would have reached a higher charging state and then my alternator would not have been demanded so much...what you think?

I think kind of remembering the needle coming back to a lower figure with my old batteries but I am not sure as I was not monitoring this regularly....

I am just wondering if there is not something wrong with the alternator for not cutting out ...if this is the case my new batteries could boil over and have a very short life span.

I'll keep an eye on this but I would like to have your input as what your voltmeter stand by.
thanks,Ronald.

Shovelhead

Mine stays at ~14 volts when the engine is running.
(except with the grid heaters are cycling)

cluckmaster

Voltmeter SHOULD read 14.5 or so all the time, except when the grid heater is running when you first start up. If the meter reads lower (such as 12) there's something wrong. -Josh

Howy

Batts always around 12v
and Alts run at 14v on all my vehicles.

Dont have 24v stuff around here at the moment!

old 300

On my 01 I notice that when the outside temperature is warm ( summer) it shows about 14. But in the winter when its cold it is about 15. I read somewhere that it charges higher for some reason when its cold. Hope this helps some. I neverever put a voltmeter on mine to see what it was doing.

bentwings

Mine is the same as "300" Got a little worried when I moved back to Minn and the batteries charged higher in the winter. All I know is that with the new starter, batteries and VP-44 I have a running machine. Cranks over at -15 below better than the old stuff did at 95+.