Are my battery and alternator working correctly?

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ianganderton

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#2900423 12-Apr-2022 15:25

Hmmmm just tested the battery voltage and it’s testing at 12.69V

It was 12.96V when I put it in yesterday

It was a short ish 20 minute drive this morning with lights, windscreen wipers and heating fan on

lxsw20

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#2900427 12-Apr-2022 15:31

Thats such a small change I wouldn't worry about it.

Long as you're seeing something around 14.4v when the van is on, then it's charging.

ianganderton

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#2902998 16-Apr-2022 17:00

lxsw20:
Thats such a small change I wouldn't worry about it.

Long as you're seeing something around 14.4v when the van is on, then it's charging.

Last time I checked I was only getting 14.1V on my multimeter. I haven’t checked with the new battery. Will have a look tomorrow morning

Jase2985

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#2903020 16-Apr-2022 18:16

there is nothing wrong with 14.1v, anywhere from 13.7-14.7v will be charging the battery (this number varies depending on where you read)

much lower and it wont charge and any higher and it could damage the battery.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#2907761 28-Apr-2022 00:00

I'm a bit late to the conversation but I've just purchased this battery/starter/alternator testing device from Amazon and it's on the way here.

It has overwhelmingly positive reviews on YouTube etc, and it's cheap, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I have several vehicles, many of which don't get used every day or even every week. I rotate the trickle charger around those vehicles but I never know if they actually need it. This new tool will allow me to only recharge them when they need it, with the added bonus of being able to test the CCA, starter motor and alternator performance on each vehicle.

$65 inc delivery seems like a small price to pay for so much convenience and testing ability going forward.

I also recommend the OP check to ensure that every single electrical device on his van is definitely switched off. I had current drain on my Hilux a few weeks ago and couldn't work out why. It turns out one of the map lights was on - potentially for weeks. Lord knows how that happened as it was on the passenger side and I am the only person who ever sits in the vehicle (and never at night).

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