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How much voltage is too much?

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Old 02-05-2007, 07:41 PM
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How much voltage is too much?
Normal running I read anywhere from 14.5 to 15 volts. Driving home today I noticed that it was reading 15.4 to 15.7. Could my voltage regulator be going bad?
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Old 02-05-2007, 08:19 PM
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Voltage will vary with tempature, mine is a lot higher when it's cold outside. Yours doesn't sound out of specs.
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Old 02-05-2007, 08:45 PM
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That would make sense, it is A LOT colder in the Northeast this week than it has been all year so far. Thanks
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Old 02-06-2007, 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by rlyons
Voltage will vary with tempature, mine is a lot higher when it's cold outside. Yours doesn't sound out of specs.
rlyons-why is that? I have noticed mine higher than normal since Nov. but added some fog lights and thought as long as it doesn't jump over 16.
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Old 02-06-2007, 08:22 AM
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Funny, I noticed my 93' was irregularly high last I drove it. I have to double check, but I think mine was going over 16?
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Old 02-06-2007, 08:47 AM
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16 VOLTS!?! I laugh at 16 volts! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


When my voltage regulator went out it pegged the ammeter at 1400 RPM; at 2800 RPM I was probably pushing 40 volts.


Don't know of any problems it caused other than burn out $50 worth of headlights... All my other lights somehow managed to live...
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Old 02-06-2007, 08:53 AM
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My gauge is pegged almost all of the time. When the grid is on, it drops a bit, but is still abnormally high. I don't know what the problem is. I figured it was a common problem, maybe not.

-Steve
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Old 02-06-2007, 12:55 PM
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When mine went bad the first time, I was pushing 18-19 volts. I could smell the battery frying!
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Old 02-06-2007, 01:09 PM
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Yeah, I think I'd try to stop short of lettin' the smoke out of the battery - that's just a wee bit much.
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Old 02-06-2007, 03:03 PM
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Most aftermarket voltage regulators are preset to 14.7 volts. The normal tolerance was +- 2 volts with just enough load applied to kick the regulator on. This applied to both internal and external regulators regardless of manufacturer or application.
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Old 02-06-2007, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by lowwag64
rlyons-why is that? I have noticed mine higher than normal since Nov. but added some fog lights and thought as long as it doesn't jump over 16.
Because batteries require more voltage to take a charge when they are cold. Most voltage regulators have a thermistor built in that adjusts for this. The later trucks have this feature built into the PCM.
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Old 02-11-2007, 12:54 PM
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How much voltage is too much?
On the way back from New Jersey, my voltmeter pegged at 18, roasted the battery and damaged the computer. About $600 later it's fixed.

Check the regulator.
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