Voltmeter reading low

Tommy · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2016, 04:17 PM

My favorite way to check for a bad ground is to run a temporary jumper cable from the negative pole of the battery to the frame or whatever piece is your central ground. If the symptoms go away, it was because you have a bad ground. If the symptoms remain, it is something else.

1795 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2016, 04:48 PM

Not sure what your electrical set up is, but some alternators require a feedback loop to charge. I had to wire in an idiot light on one car for the alternator to start charging the battery.

dcdoug · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2016, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1795

Not sure what your electrical set up is, but some alternators require a feedback loop to charge. I had to wire in an idiot light on one car for the alternator to start charging the battery.

And if the bulb burns out, you lose the excite circuit. Took my a while to figure that out last year.

Now I have a resistor wired in parallel just in case.

MISFIT 1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2016, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

My favorite way to check for a bad ground is to run a temporary jumper cable from the negative pole of the battery to the frame or whatever piece is your central ground. If the symptoms go away, it was because you have a bad ground. If the symptoms remain, it is something else.

Good idea! I will try this weekend and advise you guy