rapidcossie

I have a low batery warning light with my SPA gauges and you can set the light to come on at any voltage you want between 10 and 15v.

My question is what would you set this to as a warning of poor voltage when running flat out.

Whats to low?

Marco, I tried to PM you to ask this as I rememebr you talking about this on the phone the other month but your PM box is full

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

shouldnt really drop under 13V I think when on load with no extras running bar say radio and heater. mine constantly reads 14V or very very slightly above on load. i have an autometer volt gauge though.

if i have dipped lights, rear defroster and front heated screen on, I think it drops to roughly to 12.5V but thats because the front screen especially is a HUGE drain (somethign like 10 amps or something) and the lights on the dash go very dim as well

Rod-Tarry

Euan
Run an accuvolt & you can set Voltage between 13.5/16v & it will retain that untill the Battery Volts go below 9V. Your Fuel Pump needs all the Volts it can get when at Max Speed. It takes the worry out of an Alternator failure.

rapidcossie

Its all costs Rod and the accuvolt is quite expensive is it not?

Whats the least voltage you would want at the pump before aborting the run Rod?

Pani k.. I dont think cossies hold quite as high a voltage.

Mines is a 12v battery and i stuck a meter across it quickly with the engin eoff and got 12.6 vdc so dont see it going up to 14v when runing?

Jimboxr4x4

It will go over 12.5 when the engine is running due to the alternator. I usually see about 13.5 on my SECS which is about right.

rapidcossie

Ill connect the lapt top to the ECU the mora to see what bat voltage the ECU is seeing.

Should be 14v?

rapidcossie

took the car for its MOT tonight and while driving there I connected the laptop to the ECU.

The voltage was 13.6 at first but gradually dropped as the car ant under bonnet temps rose.

LOwest I saw was 11.9

The low bat alarm on the ECU was set at 12.5 by Mark when he fitted the autronic so Im guessing that should be the very minimum.

Whats causing my low voltage?

Dodgy resistor in alty?

Mr C

iTrader: (2)

Me and my mate Jay see over 14v on our cossies, we have spent a bit of time cleaning up earths and strapping the box and engine etc with big decent new cable.
But what is the minimum voltage to the pump before dangerous leaning off?!?

rapidcossie

I defo saw better voltage than this before as I never got the alarm on the ECU during normal driving and I hhave had the laptop connected while driving tons of times and during all top speed runs, so something has changed.

Will need to check the alternator etc seeing as the engine has just went in.

abdr500

iTrader: (1)

regulator in the allternator

rapidcossie

Ill check that mate.

Should the voltage stay quite stable as you switch on headlights etc?

mines drops quite a bit as you turn on more and more electrical equipment.

Rod-Tarry

Yes its expensive (Ł400ish) but so is a blown engine. You need to see the Volts that were seen when it was mapped at full chat or your pump wont flow as much as is required & run lean. Mark set that alarm for a reason.

Is your Alternator getting too hot I had that problem, fitted an Alternator Cooler from an Audi 100 which uses the same Alternator & it fitted straight on.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

I know my focus is different in the sense that it has a smart charge system but I find whenever I start the car from cold it holds 15V throughout the entire journey.

If I leave the car for an hour or two then it will hold 14V but it will not rise with the revs it just stabilizes and when I have rear heated screen on it will drop from say 14 to roughly 13 and a bit but will rise whenever it sees load.

When having a drain such as the heated screen, voltage should normally rise slightly on load.

rapidcossie

whats the alternator cooler like?

I havent had a prob before so its more than likely something that happend to the alty when its been lying around.

NEIL A

iTrader: (6)

Euan check all the earths for good clean contact. Im also having problems with my batttery loosing voltage when the car is sitting, so have a few tests recomended by the sparkys at work to try and find out what is drawing power or dishcarging.

rapidcossie

it holds charge no worries Neil.

Im going out in it again tonight with the meter and the laptop then going to AVA the mora to get it checked properly

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Euan:

My secs monitor shows 14.2v.

rapidcossie

Bully for you


Been out tonight again and did 50 miles ish...

the drop is seen at the battery and the ECU and is directly connected to under bonnet temps.

On fast roads the voltage is "ok" at high 12 or low 13 but after a few mins of town driving its high 11 or low 12.

Even had the battery light on very very faintly when it was idling before switching it off.

will get to the bottom of it the mora

philbert

My collins monitor shows 14v even with lights on 13.9v with lights and rear screan, Mm how old is the battery ?. I would fit new earth wires from bell housing to battery and battery to front leg, could be alternator geting to hot or worn (fucked). May also be worth fitting a new wire from battery to alternator

rapidcossie

its a brand new battery Philbert, so will try the earths etc and reconn the alternator brushes and regulator etc.

cheers for the help

Spiky

iTrader: (1)

for peice of mind, run new positives to alt and starter and battery

also replace the earths, and add a few more

thats cheap and will help it

rapidcossie

Fitted a new thick cable from the alty to the battery today andit has improved things.

voltage is up to 13.5 on normal driving and goes to 12.9 at lowest with cooling fans etc etc on.

Going to recon the alternator as I think the regulator is fooked.


Where are the main earths on a saf?

If i wanted to add more, how would I do it and where is best place for them?

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

that sounds like a healthy set of voltages.

rapidcossie

Yeah pani im alot happier, but would like to do all I can to improve it further if possible

Mark Shead

What type core cable did you use.

Mark

rapidcossie

Went and got starter type cable and proper heavy duty crimps.

What kind of voltages are you happy to work with Mark?