Quote:
|
Originally Posted by J Tinsby
... It would be great to use a real meter and not a digital one, if you can find one today... Good luck!
|
No it wouldn't! An analog gauge should NEVER be used on microelectronic circuitry because it draws too much current to actuate the gauge and can damage the circuitry which wasn't designed for that amount of voltage.
Wet cell battery technology is well designed and understood. Each cell is specifically designed to produce 2.1-2.2 VDC. You have 6 cells in series, so the total voltage on a healthy battery s/b 12.6-13.2 VDC. Any more/less, and you have a less than perfect battery. Anything under 12 VDC s/b replaced.
To use a DMM, disconnect the battery and measure the voltage across the battery terminals, looking for that 12.6-13.2 VDC discussed above, in any case record the value.
Now, reconnect the terminals and measure again. The difference is the draw by the car's ancillary systems. If greater than 1 VDC, you have an issue.
Now start the car and let it idle 1 minute. Check across the battery terminals again and you should now see 13.5-14.5 VDC (that's the rating on the Bosch alternator). If not, the weakest link in the charging system is the diode pac, so this is likely the culprit.
The up side is that it is both cheap and easy to replace with the alternator
in situ because it's external.
Cheers!