Battery voltage

billytheman1188 · 04-01-2008, 04:10 PM

So i bought the optima redtop from doubleno..... and he said it was sitting for about a year. The car starts up fine and everything, i just have a question.....

I took out my voltmeter today and checked the voltage, it said 12.34V. Is that normal? Just wondering.....

oh yea, and say i go to the drive-ins this summer and i leave my car on ACC. How long will the battery last? and if the batter dies out on me, is it bad to have it jump started? because i know with the deep cycle batterys you have to charge them slow.

thanks for any help!

01silveralero · 04-01-2008, 04:18 PM

well the number depends on a lot of factors. depends on location and temperature and a few other things. usually it should be 14v which is showing that the alternator is working fine.

YALEROYNOT · 04-01-2008, 04:21 PM

mine runs around 13.5-14 volts measured via autometer volt meter. install a volt meter in your car so you can see when it is low.

billytheman1188 · 04-01-2008, 04:24 PM

13.5!? I was told my electrical teacher that 12.4V is normal..... maybe i heard him wrong?

cherrington17 · 04-01-2008, 04:38 PM

depends if its running or not. 12.4 is normal for running... 13-14.8 is the operable range when running (depending on alt output)

and redtop batteries are not deep cycle. only yellows and blues are.

but in the ACC, you should be fine. that battery has much more current then standard car batteries.

[ion] C2 · 04-01-2008, 04:50 PM

for me,

14-15 while running
13 if just turned to acc after running
11-12 first turned to acc after period of not driving

Redog · 04-01-2008, 05:00 PM

Needs to be at least 11.8 to start the car and at least 13.8 when running/idle

Ryan from Ohio · 04-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Well its 12.4 while running or while off?

12.4 when off is acceptable. 12.4 while running you got an alternator problem!

lonnie · 04-01-2008, 09:01 PM

12.4 is the battery standing voltage, and with the car on meaning with the alternator running it should be in the hight 13s to low 14s. If you measure 12.4 while the battery is hooked up and the car running then you have a alternator problem.

cherrington17 · 04-01-2008, 09:23 PM

ok... so... lets review.

your base voltage should be 12.4 when off, and between 13-14(or near 15 if you have a high output) alt, when running... if its lower then that, you have an alternator problem.

so making sure that gets said again... cuz 5 just isn't enough.

lonnie · 04-01-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

ok... so... lets review.

your base voltage should be 12.4 when off, and between 13-14(or near 15 if you have a high output) alt, when running... if its lower then that, you have an alternator problem.

so making sure that gets said again... cuz 5 just isn't enough.

Third times a charm 4 and 5 are bonus in case 1 through 3 didn't sink in.

meadus101 · 04-02-2008, 01:49 AM

^^Which happens alot on this site.

About Redtops... My dad picked one up for his Chev 1500. Could I rob it and run it with no Damage?

cherrington17 · 04-02-2008, 08:02 AM

probably not. depends on size. i think the biggest we can fit is 75/35

CBLOHM3400 · 04-02-2008, 09:52 AM

2.1 volts per cell so 12.6 volts fully charged
running 13.5 to 14 volts ideal
worked at a battery store for 2 years

lonnie · 04-02-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBLOHM3400

2.1 volts per cell so 12.6 volts fully charged
running 13.5 to 14 volts ideal
worked at a battery store for 2 years

All they sold were batteries.....couldn't have got much business there?