Re: Voltage Drops? 5kTQ

[steveb@newkla.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

> RPM's.  Checked the voltage, sittin' pretty at 13.4/13.5.  Hmmmmm.  Turn on the
> lights (stock crap, nothing auxilliary (yet)), car phone & radio (again, stock
> crap,) voltage drops a little.  Turn on the climate control, fan kicks on,
> voltage plunged to about 12.1.  Cute.  So, is this a shot voltage regulator?
>  Alternator totally done?  The biggest drop in voltage occurs when the climate
> control is on, and the amount of drop is VERY dependant on how fast the heater
> blower motor is spinning.  The blower motor sounds fine, no nasty noises or
> anything, and it still blows gale force, so I don't _think_ that has anything
> to do with it, but who knows...  Does anybody have a clue as to what this could
> be?  Many TIA...
> 

You're probably observing the voltage drop in the wires to the head based 
on the current drawn by the blower.  When you're using the diagnostic 
channel for battery voltage you should have the CC set to OFF to minimize 
the CC current and the associated voltage drop.

Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)