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What is the voltmeter trying to tell me? 200

posted by  Erling on  Thu May 26 00:41 CST 2005
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last visit: Wed May 22 00:57 CST 2013
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I installed a voltmeter a few months back. Connected as per Volvo's instructions to fuse #13. My motivation for having it was to make sure I don't overtax the battery during the cold season. (Perhaps an amp meter would have been better?) Basically, I just refrain from using the rear defroster and seat heaters if the needle drops too low.

I would like to have a bit more insight though. What is the meter really monitoring? The output from the alternator? The input to the battery? For a period after starting, the needle tends to stay close to max. After driving for a while, the needle settles around the middle or slightly higher. I assume this means that after starting, the alternator has to do a bit of charging work until the battery has recovered. When the needle drops as I turn on more and more power consumers - is this because there is less power available to charge the battery?

I am painfully aware of my ignorance in this basic stuff, please bear with me.

Erling.
--
My 240 Page






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