Alternator output

[Happyboating]

2012 hemi putting out 15.1 volts. Anybody know what range is normal?

 

[Fast69Mopar]

2012 hemi putting out 15.1 volts. Anybody know what range is normal?

15.1V is a little on the high side of what I normally see on a fully functioning 5.7 HEMI with a good battery and good grounds.

13.8V - 14.2V used to be the norm but over the last several years I have seen more and more trucks that are in the 14.0V - 15.2V range.

Test the battery with a quality tester and also test the charging system. Clean the engine grounds, battery ground and frame ground. Check for broken or frayed ground straps, etc.

What do your driving habits look like? Does the truck get driven daily or sit for several days between starts? Do you live in a cold climate?

 

[Happyboating]

All grounds have been checked, alternator replaced, and battery replaced with new. I am in a cold climate ( Nova Scotia), truck is driven daily.

 

[blackbetty14]

I wouldn’t be too worried at 15.1v. Anything between 13.5-15v is considered normal. I personally would rather see 14.5-14.7v. No point in replacing the battery if your overcharging since the alternator is what controls the charge voltage. The battery is just there for starting for the most part as the engine be accessories essentially run off the alternator, think battery as the backup. Output from the alt will diminish over time. It’s alittle high but not something I would be worried about. Also the 4th gen alternators are 180amps if I remember which is pretty high for a factory alt. I normally would think 140amp being high capacity.

 

[Hemi395]

My 2013 will put out 15v for a while after a cold start in the winter when its really cold out. It does settle down to the mid 14v after everything is warmed up.

How old is the battery? A weak battery or corroded connections will cause the alt to crank out voltage and amps to compensate...

 

[Happyboating]

Battery and alternator are both new

 

[Dennis Gulau]

What are you using to measure the voltage?

 

[Happyboating]

A voltage meter

 

[kohersh]

I have a USB adapter with a voltage readout on it, I've seen low of 13.2 and a high of 14.7. But it does not flutter randomly or anything.

 

[Shelik Spencer]

Can you put a 220 amp alternator out of a 4th gen service ram in a regular 4th gen ram 1500 without changing the belt ?