Voltage readings...

Doing some more investigating into alt light glow on load at night. Hooked up a volt meter.

Getting 13.5 while running...steady no matter what engine speed. Flip on headlights, drops to 13...flip on blinkers and hold foot on brake, heater fan on, (w/headlights on)drops to 12 - 12.5, jumping with the flasher.

Have a rebuilt alternator and a new battery. Cleaned and tightened battery terminals and brown wires at the solenoid.

Turn the car off and on accessory mode and get 12.5v.

Car starts and runs fine.

What do you think of these readings for a 76 B? I was thinking it should be running over 14 w/o load...

Dan

Great! Don't start messing with anything. That's as near perfect as you can get it.

The only way to get any better would be to get a bigger alternator or set your idle really high. Those readings seem about right since that alternator is being maxed out at idle, and in some cases, not even excited and charging. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Hurst

Mine is study at just under 14 without anything turned on. With everything on it goes down to 12 3/4 to 12 1/2. The heater fan seems to make it drop the most. Sounds like your in the ballpark. Oh Ya mine is the stock alt, I may upgrade before to much longer. We did update the alt on the 71 but don't have a voltage gauge on it.

At normal idle, even the uprated alternators will show drop like that if everything's turned up full - headlights, heater fan, electric engine cooling fan, blender, satellite TV....

Thanks guys.

Dan, Are you still having problems with that slight glow on the alternator light? I still haven't looked at my son's car but he is using it regularly without any problems.
John

Yup, and it's starting to annoy me. I've gotten a spare alternator to try next. That's why I wired in a volt meter...just to see where my drops were.

There's always something on these cars to make you crazy!

Mmm. I just put a voltmeter in. When engine is running I get 13.5V at idle and a bit more at fuller throttle but with engine off, I only get 10V plus a hair. Only draw then should be memory on stereo. ???

The voltmeter shouldn't work when the car is turned off - it should be wired to a (white?) ignition-only wire, not an always-hot wire. It'll drain your battery otherwise, and it sounds like you don't really need that. ;)