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[+]ardvarcus0 points2 points2 points
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[–]ardvarcus0 points
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You can tell if your battery is discharging or charging, and that way you know if you need to check your ground wire, or terminals, or get a new battery or new alternator. If you are driving around and your gauge shows a steady discharge instead of a charge, it won't be long before your battery is flat and your car won't start. You can also get an indication when you have a short circuit in your wiring. It's a very useful gauge to have.
[–]level_1010 points
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I agree, this is why I will be spending 1-2 hours tomorrow replacing an alternator that is half-dead... Without the indicator I am not sure I would know that it was failing before it got to the point that it wouldn't start at all and the battery is dead.
If your voltage indicator is reading higher than it should it can indicate your battery has lost a cell. It may still start your car, and take you down the road, but your generator is now working harder than it should.
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[–] heygeorge 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
What do you need the voltage indicator for?
[–] ardvarcus 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
You can tell if your battery is discharging or charging, and that way you know if you need to check your ground wire, or terminals, or get a new battery or new alternator. If you are driving around and your gauge shows a steady discharge instead of a charge, it won't be long before your battery is flat and your car won't start. You can also get an indication when you have a short circuit in your wiring. It's a very useful gauge to have.
[–] level_101 ago
I agree, this is why I will be spending 1-2 hours tomorrow replacing an alternator that is half-dead... Without the indicator I am not sure I would know that it was failing before it got to the point that it wouldn't start at all and the battery is dead.
[–] dangerous_ai 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
If your voltage indicator is reading higher than it should it can indicate your battery has lost a cell. It may still start your car, and take you down the road, but your generator is now working harder than it should.
[–] Redcobra 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Oh I used to like to see bat was at 9-12 volts when on and 14 volts driving.just easy to see battery/charging good.