RE: [DML] what is the Volt gage for?

["Tom Tait" <TTait@xxxxxxxxxx>]

David:
 
Your Delorean, like most cars is built on a 12V power system.  That is a
base point for the whole system.  Typically a good car battery will
provide about 12.75 volts of power to the car.
 
Just as with a flashlight, the battery would drain fairly quickly unless
it was recharged.  The battery then only provides the power required to
start the car and get the engine running.  Once you start the car your
alternator, similar to a generator, provides the electrical power.  When
the car is running the alternator is running properly it will provide
about 14.25 volts to the car.  This excess current is available to
slowly recharge the battery, replacing the power used when you started
the car.  AS John Hervey and others would be quick to point out, the
excess power the alternator produces isn't meant to recharge failing
batteries or compensate for a faulty electrical system.  If you
accidentally run your battery down by leaving your lights on or
something, you will want to use a quality battery charger to try to
restore it. 
 
All of this matters because your volt gauge helps you detect and
understand problems in your car's electrical system.  If you get in and
turn on the key and the voltage is very low, the car likely won't start
because your battery has a low charge, or its connecting cables are
dirty.  
 
If the voltage drops slowly while the car is running, regardless of
engine speed, you likely have an alternator or charging system problem.
 
If your voltage is very low at idle but increases as engine speed picks
up, your alternator is likely beginning to fail.
 
These are just examples - the main thing to know is that if you have, or
think you may have electrical problems, make note of what your voltage
gauge is doing as it will help us here or your mechanic make diagnostics
as to what may be wrong.
 
For now, watch it while you drive, not the patterns and the range,  and
then really take note if it starts performing differently.  In general,
when one component in your electrical system starts to fail it can
quickly cause problems with other components.  Fix problems before they
get out of hand, and use the volt gauge to watch for said problems.
 
Tom

________________________________

From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of daviddlasvegas
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:40 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] what is the Volt gage for?



Can someone tell me what the Volt gage is on the car for? I think Volt 
is the speed at which power is traveling, right? So what is the 
specific purpose of this gage? Mine is always just a smidge above the 
center mark.



 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/