Volt Gauge?

**pajeff02** · 11-19-2010, 05:18 AM

While driving our Suburban, I have noticed that the volt gauge moves around a lot more than any other car we have had. It'll go as low as 13 and as high as 15+. Coming home from downstate it stayed at 13 the entire trip. I haven't checked the actual voltage at the battery terminals while it is running as of yet. Just curious if this is normal?

**konigandy6** · 11-19-2010, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

While driving our Suburban, I have noticed that the volt gauge moves around a lot more than any other car we have had. It'll go as low as 13 and as high as 15+. Coming home from downstate it stayed at 13 the entire trip. I haven't checked the actual voltage at the battery terminals while it is running as of yet. Just curious if this is normal?

Normal

**pajeff02** · 11-19-2010, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

Normal

Good to hear. Made me nervous to see the gauge move like that. I understand that the system may call for greater or lesser output depending upon load, just not as radical as I was seeing.

**ntimid8r** · 11-19-2010, 09:18 AM

Unless you have an amp gauge hooked up...you're not really going to know how much current is being drawn from the battery. A volt gauge is helpful to keep an eye on the battery situation, but not a perfect reflection. Just an fyi

**pajeff02** · 11-19-2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by ntimid8r

Unless you have an amp gauge hooked up...you're not really going to know how much current is being drawn from the battery. A volt gauge is helpful to keep an eye on the battery situation, but not a perfect reflection. Just an fyi

Agreed. I was just going to double check the gauge reading with my DVOM. If something does appear amiss I'll get my scanner on it so I can watch what is happening to see if it relates to any of the vehicle's electrical accessories.

Thanks guys!

**ntimid8r** · 11-19-2010, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Agreed. I was just going to double check the gauge reading with my DVOM. If something does appear amiss I'll get my scanner on it so I can watch what is happening to see if it relates to any of the vehicle's electrical accessories.

Thanks guys!

The burb's volt meter might vary a little more than the DVOM you put on. The variance is due to other wires and connections inline (i.e. dash circuit cluster). But it's good you check it with a DVOM just to see for sure where everythings at.