14v at idle 16v under load 14v under load with lights on

[0DegreeEngineer]

Ammeter shows steady center under load and at idle a minimal discharge. These readings are from an under dah mounted voltage gauge, reads steady power coming off of auxiliary port on fuse box. Mechanical regulator at idle battery voltage changing from 12.8 to 14.3 while idling (Warm) slow change not rapid, without taking the hood off and setting my DVOM directly to the battery to confirm where should I start looking or is this just an overly sensitive gauge? Is my Mechanical regulator set to high?

 

[Sixpactogo]

Read this post. It may help.

Battery at 15V...... Is My understanding of the VR correct?

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

Read this post. It may help.

Battery at 15V...... Is My understanding of the VR correct?

Sounds like I need to bring my voltage adjustment down (13.8-13.1) if my resistance and grounds check out if I understood that post correctly?

 

[Sixpactogo]

Yes but read the end of that post. He found a bad connection that was causing the high voltage. If all of the wiring is sound, then it could very well be the voltage regulator. Make sure you test and verify the regulator is grounded properly also. A digital ohm meter is your friend here.

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

Yes but read the end of that post. He found a bad connection that was causing the high voltage. If all of the wiring is sound, then it could very well be the voltage regulator. Make sure you test and verify the regulator is grounded properly also. A digital ohm meter is your friend here.

I do have a fluke DVOM at home so I am all good there. I will go back over all my connections and make sure my grounds and resistances are within specifications. Thank you for the thread link

 

[Sixpactogo]

Hopefully you also have a wiring diagram. You need to take the time and patience to check and verify all of the charging circuits to make sure you don't have a bad connection. If you have a different regulator to try first it may save some time but if it is still sending too much voltage to the battery it is more than likely a bad connection somewhere.
Good Luck!

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

Hopefully you also have a wiring diagram. You need to take the time and patience to check and verify all of the charging circuits to make sure you don't have a bad connection. If you have a different regulator to try first it may save some time but if it is still sending too much voltage to the battery it is more than likely a bad connection somewhere.
Good Luck!

I have a FSM but was a bit lost, no extra regulator will check and adjust i adjusted a few weeks ago because it was only putting out 12.8v and did not have the battery voltage gauge installed at the time.

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

Made a few adjustments and i believe i got it dialed in yesterday 12.78 at idle 13.8v under load without headlights on with lights drops to 13v but no over charging, for now it is good for cruising may need a little more adjustment but good for now we will see how the rest of the season goes.

 

[RJRENTON]

I have a FSM but was a bit lost, no extra regulator will check and adjust i adjusted a few weeks ago because it was only putting out 12.8v and did not have the battery voltage gauge installed at the time.

What do you NOT understand about the FSM? You state that you're a degreed engineer?? What discipline? Voltage variations are a normal occurrence and vary with load and engine rpm.....in spite of what you've read and been told. The solution is don't worry about a few tenths of a volt. The system is designed with this variation included.....
BOB RENTON

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

What do you NOT understand about the FSM? You state that you're a degreed engineer?? What discipline? Voltage variations are a normal occurrence and vary with load and engine rpm.....in spite of what you've read and been told. The solution is don't worry about a few tenths of a volt. The system is designed with this variation included.....
BOB RENTON

My user name is 0 (Zero) Degree engineer, I understood that the issue I was having was getting the voltage differential to stay within a safe operating range so the system will charge and not overcharge while operating. I was wanting some advice to be sure I understood that what I was adjusting was correct and not fighting some unseen issue. Along with not trying to adjust to an impossible result (ie. 14.2v at idle 14.2v underload all conditions lights on or off, which I know is not possible with the mechanical voltage regulator). Thank you for clarifying the variable of a few tenths appreciate the input.

 

[Sam69sat]

Made a few adjustments and i believe i got it dialed in yesterday 12.78 at idle 13.8v under load without headlights on with lights drops to 13v but no over charging, for now it is good for cruising may need a little more adjustment but good for now we will see how the rest of the season goes.

What adjustments did you make? It could be helpful for others in the future having the same issue.

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

What adjustments did you make? It could be helpful for others in the future having the same issue.

continued adjusting the spring tension on the mechanical voltage regulator until I received the above stated voltages in post # 8, did not take any measurements of the spring due to this being an O'rielly replacement.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/standard-ignition/alternators---starters/voltage-regulator/bcb09f5b993f/standard-ignition-12-volt-15-amp-voltage-regulator/std0/vr101/v/a/16741/automotive-car-1969-plymouth-gtx?q=voltage+regulator&pos=1