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How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:05 am
by haydn callow
Next time you have your head under the bonnet of the Bongo....could you put a volt meter across the battery terminals and post the voltage reading (on this topic).....this would be best done after the engine has been running a few mins and the voltage has settled down. I am trying to determin a average voltage for the Bongo.
Thanks
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 12:00 pm
by apole
Hi there,
Normally to check the battery charge state you would do this after the battery hasn't received a charge for at least 2 hours.
If you are trying to find out if it's charging or not different matter.
Mine will normally stay at 14.4 volts, but it goes up if you put the headlights on or something that drains the battery more, max I've seen is 14.7. This is with the engine running at least 2000 RPM.
Hope this helps.
Andy
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 1:16 pm
by mikeonb4c
Keen to help but trying to work out what this is all about. I'd imagined that resting volatge in the battery would depend on battery condition etc. so it would be hard to establish a 'normal' figure. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see what the 'normal' figure might be for the charge output from the alternator (does the winter pack Bongo have a higher rated alternator than the non-winter ones?)
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 1:26 pm
by haydn callow
Reading to be taken with the engine running.....and preferbly been running for a good few mins and no heavy loads switched on.
Ta
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 1:28 pm
by haydn callow
On the other hand, it would be interesting to see what the 'normal' figure might be for the charge output from the alternator (does the winter pack Bongo have a higher rated alternator than the non-winter ones?)
Yes, I belive it does... but this shouldn't affect the voltage at the battery.
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 2:45 pm
by Veg_Ian
Under those conditions mine put out 14.6v IIRC
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:00 pm
by haydn callow
Thanks Ian...thats what I'm after.
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:01 pm
by patnben
A fully charged healthy lead acid battery "at rest" with no load should
measure 2.1 volts per cell, or 12.6 volts for a healthy 12 Volt battery.
My Bongo with new batteries, charging with the engine running at
800 RPM measures 14.2 Volts. At 3000 RPM the charging terminal
voltage is 14.4 Volts. As I have just been out for a long run I suspect
my batteries are fully charged and I know that the alternator is in
good condition.
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:06 pm
by haydn callow
Thanks Ben !!!! another 12 random readings from 12 differant peeps should give me what I'm after.
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:21 pm
by francophile1947
14.2V at tickover

Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:33 am
by dandywarhol
14.1 volts - everything off including the leisure battery relay.
Its worth waiting at least 5 mins. to make sure the glow plugs are switched off - 15 deg. outside today and mine were still on for nearly 4 minutes

Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:31 pm
by Bored Lizard
Haydn,
Will check tommorow now that I have my calibrated meter back from work and will let you know readings.
Am interested to know why you want to get a reasonably accurate average tho.
Cheers
Mark
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:43 pm
by Lloydy
14.3 mate.
Lloydy
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:51 pm
by haydn callow
Bored Lizard wrote:Haydn,
Will check tommorow now that I have my calibrated meter back from work and will let you know readings.
Am interested to know why you want to get a reasonably accurate average tho.
Cheers
Mark
We are Looking at a future new circuit design for the Bongo LCA.
Just curious what the voltage window is.
Seems to be about 14.1v to 14.7v
I think we have what we need now......BIG thanks to all of you.
Re: How Many Volts
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 2:38 pm
by ex25er
I know you've got what you need, but mine was 13.8
When i turn my ignition on my lca slowly fades out in a kind of wimpy strangulated bleep sound, rather than a good 'manly' BLEEP. It also occasionally lets out a little chirp just after starting up.
Could it be my battery has seen better days? It wouldn't surprise me if it had, it's japanese and the bongo's been over here for about 3 years now I think.
Phil