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

[Canadian1968]

I had to fix a loose wire on my Starter today. After getting it fixed up I was checking things over and noticed that my battery is running at 15V @ Idle (15.09 with RPM ) Battery is fully charged. Power at my Alternator stud is identical to battery. Power at my Ignition "run " wire on my ballast is 14.4V . This tells me I have approx a .6V voltage drop in the system? Not that bad IMO.

The VR uses the voltage detected off the Ignition Run wire, which it is keeping at 14.4V. This is fine , my concern is the constant 15V to the battery.

Would I not be better off getting battery voltage to regulate the VR? The VR would regulate the battery voltage to 14.4, the rest of the system after voltage drop would be in the 13.8 range. Or I could accomplish the same thing with an adjustable regulator ?

Or

Is 15V fine for the battery.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

15 volts is a little high. Disconnect the connector from the ign. terminal on the regulator and run a jumper directly to the battery and see what you have.

 

[Canadian1968]

15 volts is a little high. Disconnect the connector from the ign. terminal on the regulator and run a jumper directly to the battery and see what you have.

This was my thought. I will try it tomorrow. My guess is it will drop the battery to 14.4v and my ignition and other accessories in the 13.8 range . ? ?

 

[Sinitro]

What are U measuring the voltage with??
Note that typical voltmeter tolerances are +/-3%...
So if the voltmeter indicates 15V, the actual voltage
can range from up to 15.45V or down to 14.55V..

Just my $0.02...

 

[Canadian1968]

What are U measuring the voltage with??
Note that typical voltmeter tolerances are +/-3%...
So if the voltmeter indicates 15V, the actual voltage
can range from up to 15.45V or down to 14.55V..

Just my $0.02...

Measuring with a DVOM . I have 2 different ones I can use. I just tested , they both give the same reading within .03v ( tested without the car running ).

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Even if your voltmeter is off a .little, in a perfect world, the voltage at the regulator should be the same as at the battery.

 

[Canadian1968]

Even if your voltmeter is off a .little, in a perfect world, the voltage at the regulator should be the same as at the battery.

But there will be some.votage drop threw out the system .



I don't understand why it's allowing the alternator to produce 15+v . Or why the battery is calling foe 15v..

I missing something here

Is it, new regulators are made to regulate a higher voltage for all the new electronics on vehicles?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

The voltage drop is in the circuit that supplies current to the regulator. The VR thinks the battery voltage is 14.4. The drop could be caused by a bad connection somewhere or an added draw on that circuit etc.

 

[mr. b]

I had the same problem with my power wagon it was the alternator burned up two voltage regulators before I figured it out hope you figure it out

 

[toolmanmike]

But there will be some.votage drop threw out the system .



I don't understand why it's allowing the alternator to produce 15+v . Or why the battery is calling foe 15v..

I missing something here

Is it, new regulators are made to regulate a higher voltage for all the new electronics on vehicles?

Show us a photo of your regulator. According to your name and avatar photo you have a 68 B body which should have the old points style regulator. If you replaced it you may have bought an electronic one that looks like the old ones. The electronic ones require a perfect ground and like all charging circuits, no voltage drop or excessive resistance in the charge wire circuit. It must see full battery voltage or it will overcharge constantly. 15v. is really too much. Low to mid 13's is my comfort zone. Contact @HALIFAXHOPS. He may have a NOS regulator for you. Back when they were made in the US and good quality.

 

[Canadian1968]

Yes I am running an updated regulator . Had the setup on the car for 10 years . It's possible it has been running this way for a while ? There are no other problems you wouldbt know unless you checked it.

 

[toolmanmike]

Yes I am running an updated regulator . Had the setup on the car for 10 years . It's possible it has been running this way for a while ? There are no other problems you wouldbt know unless you checked it.

View attachment 1861929

I have that style on my 70 Swinger. I went through 3 Echlin brand regulators from NAPA and finally found a NOS Mopar one that took care of my overcharging issue.

 

[Sixpactogo]

15 Volts is too high for your battery. It will boil the water/acid out in pretty short order. I would get an adjustable regulator and get it down to under14V.
Your battery is probably already low.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

 

[hunt2elk]

You are lucky in that an adjustable regulator is available in that style. The new electronic replacement vr's for 69 and older cars all regulate at 15-15.3 volts in my experience, and are not available as adjustable.

 

[Canadian1968]

Didn't know you had this video . It basically explains what I was thinking. Thank you.

So since I do have a very small voltage drop in my own system ( .6 - .5v ) the fact that my VR wants to hold 14.4 means even the Littlest drop will over charge my battery.

If I do the field circuit pass I will be getting 14.4 at my battery . Which is much more acceptable.

Or I get an adjustable . Hmmmmm

 

[toolmanmike]

I like the black box regulators with the painted on numbers. The newer ones may be black but are stickers and not as good of quality as the old originals.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Show us a photo of your regulator. According to your name and avatar photo you have a 68 B body which should have the old points style regulator. If you replaced it you may have bought an electronic one that looks like the old ones. The electronic ones require a perfect ground and like all charging circuits, no voltage drop or excessive resistance in the charge wire circuit. It must see full battery voltage or it will overcharge constantly. 15v. is really too much. Low to mid 13's is my comfort zone. Contact @HALIFAXHOPS. He may have a NOS regulator for you. Back when they were made in the US and good quality.

Most are packed up. Do have some of the two pin ones NORS out.

 

[Mr. Mike]

I bought the solid state in a points regulator case type because too lazy to drill holes in firewall.
Also ran a wire from regulator mounting screw to ignition coil mounting bolt.
Works good with original 35 amp alternator.

 

[Canadian1968]

I've gone a head and ordered an adjustable regulator ... take a few weeks ro get here