Battery Charging

From CEM to VEM, from LED to lightbulb and more. If you have an electrical problem, like a broken info-centre, search for answers in this category. This is also the place to be when you expect the problem to be of an electrical nature...

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yorkievolvo
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Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:27 pm

The charging gauge in the dash of my 480 registers in, or very near to, the red sector, all the time the engine is running.
This is, I believe, not how it should be.
Can't find any info in the forum so it's a case of 'please, has anybody got any info/ideas?'.
Many thanks.

Robou
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by Robou » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:55 pm

The gauge is all but an exact indicator. Check the voltage which a multimeter over the battery, lights, fans and AC off. If it is well over 14 Volts exchange the regulator in the alternator.
Too old to bother
480 Turbo midst '91

jifflemon
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by jifflemon » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:32 pm

A multimeter across the battery is the best check - You should see at least 13.5v with the engine running.

However, before starting, check that the battery warning light is lit up on the dashboard with the ignition on, if it's not, it can prevent the alternator from starting to charge. It could be a simple failed bulb, it could also be signs of a dead alternator.

Alan 480
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by Alan 480 » Fri Jan 18, 2019 12:44 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:32 pm
A multimeter across the battery is the best check - You should see at least 13.5v with the engine running.

However, before starting, check that the battery warning light is lit up on the dashboard with the ignition on, if it's not, it can prevent the alternator from starting to charge. It could be a simple failed bulb, it could also be signs of a dead alternator.
or even the small thin wire broken at the alternator, guess how I know :wink:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

yorkievolvo
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Sun Jan 20, 2019 2:12 pm

Thanks for the info, gentlemen.
Will check the system tomorrow - snooker to-day.
Alan 480 - I believe the expression is "I was that soldier".

yorkievolvo
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Tue Jan 29, 2019 9:16 pm

Update.
Found single-wire connector wasn't (connected).
Using all my knowledge of electrical circuits; I re-connected it and all is now good.
However, I think I need a new battery.
Thanks for all the info.

jifflemon
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by jifflemon » Wed Jan 30, 2019 2:17 pm

How old is the battery? How often is the car used and what sort of journeys do you do?

Alternators are not exactly efficient at charging - they're primarily used to run the electronics and keep the battery topped up.

This means if you've a battery that hasn't been being charged for some time, you've possibly taken out more than you've put in.

Especially if you're only doing short journeys (which, in winter time, mean with additional electrical load from Heated seats, heated windows, lights etc).

Sticking it on a good battery charger overnight wouldn't do it any harm.

yorkievolvo
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:21 pm

jifflemon,
three good questions.
How old is the battery? Don't know.
How often is the car used? Every two/three days.
What sort of journeys do I do? No more than ten (10) miles.
I'll just keep removing/charging/re-fitting after & before every trip.

yorkievolvo
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:08 am

Update
Went Lidling yesterday and car wouldn't start after leaving Lidl. Flattened the battery so called out the RAC.
The engineer did his checks and showed me that the alternator was only pushing out 11.6 volts.
So now I'm looking for a new/recond. alternator.
Anybody any ideas/recommendations/spare?
In advance, Thanks.

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
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Location: Cambridge

Re: Battery Charging

Post by jamescarruthers » Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:34 pm

I sent mine for remanufacture at Just Alternators and Starter Motors. This is all Mike does and he is surprisingly passionate about what he does.
www.jasm.co.uk
Last edited by jamescarruthers on Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by jifflemon » Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:22 pm

yorkievolvo wrote:
Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:08 am
Update
Went Lidling yesterday and car wouldn't start after leaving Lidl. Flattened the battery so called out the RAC.
The engineer did his checks and showed me that the alternator was only pushing out 11.6 volts.
So now I'm looking for a new/recond. alternator.
Anybody any ideas/recommendations/spare?
In advance, Thanks.
Just before running for an alternator, have you checked (or did the rac man check) it actually is a alternator problem?

Remember this post?

yorkievolvo
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Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:56 pm

Thanks James.
I've booked an appointment, for tomorrow morning, with a local reconditioner.
If he's too expensive, I could be sending a parcel to Southampton.

yorkievolvo
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Posts: 127
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:34 pm

Re: Battery Charging

Post by yorkievolvo » Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:08 pm

Thanks jifflemon,
the RAC chap connected a couple of black boxes to the car and spent a few minutes letting everything warm up & settle down.
He showed me the readings - 11.6 for the alternator output - was good enough for me.
No point it messing about, I thought, find a replacement.
Change things I can do; when it's a nuts & bolts job.
It's the electrickery bits where I'm stumped.

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