bigfatty

iTrader: (1)

My lights were doing some slight flickering so I hooked the meter up and at idle I am at a little over 15volts, 15.05 to be exact. Engine off, just the battery is reading at 12.05, and the battery is only 2 months old so thats not the problem. Any ideas, alternator, alternator belt, bad grounds? Any help or expirence would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Fat

WasatchY2KMax

Doesn't really sound like a problem... A charging system always runs higher than 12vdc. However, I will say that 15vdc sounds a wee bit high but that may just be your meter being slightly inaccurate... It's normal to see voltage at the battery terminals with KOER at 14.5+vdc/.; What kind of meter do you have...? Digital obviously... But 'el cheapo or fairly nice? I prefer Fluke or BK Precision meters but I am an electronics tech so I am kind of picky and those are NOT the cheapest ones you can buy (also not the most expensive.. (just good middle ground choices)

WasatchY2KMax

Just out of curiosity I just went out and measured mine and with engine running at slightly fast (cold engine) idle I read 15.16 vdc. That was with my BK Precision meter.

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

alldata will set the light if over 15.5 or no voltage is produced, but it also shows regulated output voltage @ 14.1-14.7V..A little high, but you should be ok in this aspect...
I may be wrong here, it's been a long time since I had to check for bad diodes,(which can cause flickering of the lights and power surges to your electrical components which can become very costly very quick), but IIRC you should have no more than 500MV (1/2 of a volt) of AC Voltage at the battery. If it is higher than this than your diodes are bad.(IIRC)

bigfatty

iTrader: (1)

Ok so if my voltage is within normal, any ideas why my lights are flickering?

ryanjimz

This probably isnt it but i noticed that you have a system..was it running at the time you noticed flickering, and do you have a capacitor?

bigfatty

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I have a system, but a 1 farad cap is in line and this is a new problem, the system has been there 2 years now without any trouble. The lights will flicker if the system is booming or off, They dont dim at all when the subs hits, its just a steady flicker. Thanks for the help Ryan, any other ideas?

alpinestars™

iTrader: (6)

hmm, maybe the capacitor is loosing its effectiveness...

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

check AC voltage at the battery while the car is running and @ 2500 RPM
Is it ONLY the headlights or all the lights?

(I'll check mine to compare if you want)

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

Just checked mine for chits and giggles to see what normal AC was at battery.

.0023 volts. So my diodes are doing a good job of converting AC Voltage to DC Voltage. That's with a Fluke 88 so I know it's right.
Also check your VD for alt ground to battery ground..
Mine was .120 V..IIRC anything under .5V is ok