Posted by apb (in NY) on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 10:01PM :
In Reply to: Generator/Regulator Wiring Question? posted by Will (in MO today) on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 7:08PM :
Instead of the "I'll just pull off a wire and see what happens" method, it's easy to acquaint yourself with a few basic electrical facts, which, once learned, will be useful for the rest of your career.
Each cell of a fully-charged lead-acid battery gives out about 2.11 volts at rest.
Therefore a fully-charged 12-volt battery will read about 12.7 volts at rest, and will read about 13.8 to 14.2 volts when being adequately charged. (divide all figures by two for a 6-volt system and multiply by two for a 24-volt system.)
Use a digital volt meter. They cost $15.00 or so at Radio Shack.
With the engine off, you will read the resting voltage, and if the alternator/generator is charging, you will see an increase at the battery terminal.