What should the voltmeter show?

[martin]

Hi

My voltmeter shows 16V+. It should show about 14.7 or something?

I have not measured what the actual voltage is.

Is it normal to have the voltmeter show +16V?

I could not find anything about this in the FAQ or the Search.

Regards

 

[BryanZublin]

I think a fully charged 12V battery is around 13.8V.
When the engine is running, I believe the nominal voltage is 14.4V for proper charging. If it is truly 16V, then I would replace the alternator because the integrated voltage regulator is probably failing.

 

[mikec]

my voltmeter reads high.. almost pegged. Its always been that way since new.

 

[sjs]

You should probably do a simple check with a meter across the battery terminals (or fuse block etc.) while the car is running. High voltage (typically from a bad regulator as mentioned by BZ) will cook your battery. If you don’t have a voltmeter then stop by an Autozone or the like, they’ll check it for free.

 

[Kinan]

Static voltage for an unloaded lead acid cell is 2.1 volts.
Put 6 of them together and you get 12.6 volts static voltage.

Maybe your internal voltmeter is off.
Try a real voltmeter for comparison.

 

[BryanZublin]

Originally posted by Kinan Static voltage for an unloaded lead acid cell is 2.1 volts. Put 6 of them together and you get 12.6 volts static voltage.

That sounds more like it, the 13.8V that I mentioned above is too high. 13.8V appears to be the common voltage for DC power supplies used to power 12V equipment.

 

[Kinan]

Maybe because its a common alternator output voltage?
I agree, anything above 14.4 volts is too high.

 

[ChrisK]

I think the NSX volt meter in the cluster just reads high. Mine reads about 16-17V and I know it is not that high since I checked with my multimeter. I think the only thing the volt meter in the cluster is good for is a quick glance to see if the alternator is working or not. I figure if the alternator failed the volatge would start dropping and you would be able to see that.

 

[mikec]

Yes.. I think that is the issue here.... that the in-dash voltmeter is inacurate and reads too high. What does your dash voltmeter read?

 

[martin]

Yes.. I think that is the issue here.... that the in-dash voltmeter is inacurate and reads too high. What does your dash voltmeter read?

Hi

Mine reads 16/17V

I used a voltmeter on the battery and it is normal. It was above 13V with the engine running.. can not remember exactly.

The voltmeter in the dash is a on/off indicator it seems..

Regards

 

[JAYS NSX]

Mine reads 14.5 and there is no problem whatsoever

 

[ylwiron]

voltmeter

Mine reads 16V's.