Buys what does your system read when the engine running as mine doesn't go above 13.7v which I think is low? I have a feeling my alternator may be on the way out.. Luckily it's only a Td6 so nice and cheap though

Over 14v  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Just had my alternator replaced, did 14 + at start but 13.7 at 2000 rpm with airco etc blowing and the batterylight telling me it was not happy. Now car is happy again. Obviously it seems to be to low and killing your battery also when below 14.

14.6

Are you reading the voltage at battery with meter or looking at voltage though hidden menu on Sat nav screen?

Hi
How do I find the hidden menu on the satnav screen to see the voltage?

I know mine reads 13.7v in the hidden menu.
Not sure if my alternator is ok though.
I'll check with a multimeter.

I am reading it from a meter in the 12v socket in the car as I'm driving.. Would this be an accurate way of telling? There is no battery light on the dash..

Bungal wrote:

Hi
How do I find the hidden menu on the satnav screen to see the voltage?

Sounds interesting +1 on how do you access this?

(14.4V using meter) 405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
93 RR Classic efi

Remember it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

Gone in order:
4.4 TDV8 SE - gone to a good home
93 Classic hard dash Plymouth Blue
03 L322 Oslo Blue
2000 Disco TD5 ES Epsom Green
98 P38 Rioja Red
89 Classic Cairngorm Brown

Just a word of caution. If you are going to measure battery voltage you really need to do it accurately given the small but significant differences in voltage that tend to arise.
The best way to measure it is with a decent quality multimeter or voltmeter connected across the battery terminals.
The most convenient way to do it is to fit a voltmeter into the front cigar socket so that you can monitor voltage whilst driving.
Unfortunately in my experience such plug in type voltmeters can be somewhat inaccurate and thus misleading.
I have a couple of these plug in type voltmeters which read 0.4V and 0.5V respectively lower than battery voltage.
It's also worth checking the cigar socket voltage with the battery terminal voltage with a multimeter to check they are actually the same, they should be but...... My cigar socket for example consistently reads 0.3V low compared to the battery terminal voltage, no idea why, presumably a dubious connection somewhere.
If however you know there is such a discrepancy you can just allow for it in readings taken.
As to alternator voltage. Would be looking for a minimum of 14V rising to 14.4 when running on load but it does vary depending on conditions at the time.
From what I have read in the past the voltage outputs displayed by the obc tend to be inaccurate at best and shouldn't be relied on.

IIPTool, if left attached constantly reads the voltage output  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

nicedayforit wrote:

Just a word of caution. If you are going to measure battery voltage you really need to do it accurately given the small but significant differences in voltage that tend to arise.
The best way to measure it is with a decent quality multimeter or voltmeter connected across the battery terminals.
The most convenient way to do it is to fit a voltmeter into the front cigar socket so that you can monitor voltage whilst driving.
Unfortunately in my experience such plug in type voltmeters can be somewhat inaccurate and thus misleading.
I have a couple of these plug in type voltmeters which read 0.4V and 0.5V respectively lower than battery voltage.
It's also worth checking the cigar socket voltage with the battery terminal voltage with a multimeter to check they are actually the same, they should be but...... My cigar socket for example consistently reads 0.3V low compared to the battery terminal voltage, no idea why, presumably a dubious connection somewhere.
If however you know there is such a discrepancy you can just allow for it in readings taken.
As to alternator voltage. Would be looking for a minimum of 14V rising to 14.4 when running on load but it does vary depending on conditions at the time.
From what I have read in the past the voltage outputs displayed by the obc tend to be inaccurate at best and shouldn't be relied on.

Hi, yes your are correct.. i had one of the voltmeters plugged into the cigar lighter and whilst driving was reading between 13.5v-13.7v.. I went and purchased a good quality multimeter today and tested from the battery with the engine running and aircon on etc, the reading was 14.3v-14.4v so quite a difference and seems my cheap incar ebay special is junk

Now you have a multimeter it would be worth comparing the cigar socket voltage to the battery voltage.
If anyone is looking for a plug-in voltmeter that will display whilst driving I would suggest one of these.
I have one and it consistently reads accurately compared to a multimeter.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-RBA3-12v-24...20b51fff8b

Hidden menu, whilst on the home screen, keep your finger pressed on the top middle of the screen for 5 seconds, then press the navigation button, if these have been done right a keypad then shows on the screen. Type in 753 and the screen shows loads of info over a couple of pages.

BE WARNED NOT TO ALTER ANYTHING WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.