What battery voltage would you expect?

[chapps]

Hello all,

Just a question I found an article indicating that the climate control unit shows a number of test functions. The 11th one battery voltage, mine indicates 13 v with the engine running no accessories and 12.5 v with the front demister blower on, to me 13 v seems a little low the question is what would you expect the battery voltage to be?



If you would like to know how it’s done visit go to the second article on the page.
2008 June | BMW E36 Blog

Just a suggestion have a tendency to press the rear defogger if anything a little before the auto button and don’t press them for long. If you don’t get it the first time keep trying you will. I accessed them with the car running.

Thanks for any and all help

Marc

[marti5]

Good find for those not yet a customed to that feature,as for your car pushing 13v seems fine to me, my 7 pushes 14.4 V but I would presume this for all the extra gadgets in place.

[basrite]

Hey,

between 13.3 and 14.8 is pretty normal. It will be higher just after starting as the alternator is topping the battery back up.

The diode pack and regulator will adjust based on load requirements. So it will be higher charging and when electrical items are turned on. You will find it gradually lowering over a 15 minute period as the top up of the battery completes.

If its 12.5 immediately after starting then you may have issues with a dead battery in the near future. But if the car has been running for a bit and you have nothing turned on, that is perfectly fine.

J.