how to check the alternators output?

[XxedgarxX 2]

well i bought an alternator a week ago and it just arrive today. now i have a question how can i really check for the output

the guy i bough it for said it was a 300 amp alt from excessive amp but i want to make sure it sure is (not that i want to say the guy is a scammer) but for my personal intentions of using it.

any help would do great, i know i shouldnt take it to autozone or any place like that results wont come right

[rushnrun 14]

really the autozone way is the easiest... I don't know of what issues, or how accurate they are but....

The tested my Ebay "250" amp alt and it only did 168amps at 2k rpm

I'm sure you could use a dc clamp meter... I own one but have never tried to test an alt with it..

[XxedgarxX 2]

well that will be where im going if it hits higher than 200 amps ill be ok

thanks for the fast response

[jonbearsmt 919]

most bench testers like autozones wont read anything over 175 amps.... 130 amps is the highest for most.

[XxedgarxX 2]

most bench testers like autozones wont read anything over 175 amps.... 130 amps is the highest for most.

hmmm now what i can do maybe its time to buy the bl's and test the alt :bigclap: if the voltage doesn't drop im good

[rushnrun 14]

Are you running an extra batt with that amp???

[XxedgarxX 2]

Are you running an extra batt with that amp???

everything is still in the living room i need to purchase the subs but im runing a red top and a regular bat. before i had it with 2 batteries but it kept dropping my volts really bad maybe bad alt but i changed cars now so hopefully i get better and with more rms later on

would this be any good i want something cheap not gonna use it everyday so no need for something expensive

http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php?targe...product_id=1896

[cobracommander 0]

those aernt too acurate, atleast get a crafstman, if you are just gonna get cheap the try harborfreight

[XxedgarxX 2]

those aernt too acurate, atleast get a crafstman, if you are just gonna get cheap the try harborfreight

well i dont need it to give me an 1% off calculation i just wanted to see if my alt realy goes above the 250 amps like they should

[rushnrun 14]

two things

One) that's an AC clamp meter (won't work), you'd have to have a DC clamp meter.. the craftsman ones are 60

Two) to test the alt you have to have a load on it... the autozone tester puts a load on to test output (I think.... someone correct me if I'm wrong..)

[bassahaulic 155]

Your right, your best off going to a alt shop and having them test it.

[XxedgarxX 2]

thanks for correcting my noobness with alts

[bassahaulic 155]

thanks for correcting my noobness with alts

We try.

Sometimes we fail though.....

[rushnrun 14]

On your batts and that amp...

In my buddies stock Yukon(he did the wiring himself and refuses to do permanent upgrades anything since he buys a new truck every 6-10 months) with one 800 CCA(JUNK) batt under the hood, one 1100CCA batt in the rear just running 4ga from front to rear, w/no upgrades at all, stock alt no "Big Three"---(I don't call it that... I've been doing it for over a decade... I don't know when it got the name...anyhow..)

He has no dimming no electrical issues at all..

I ran basically the same setup in my mazda but with 0gauge and had no issues there either.. when I ran my two zx2500's I added one extra batt and worked great... my voltage never dropped below 12 volts...

***I ran my amp at 1 ohm, my buddy runs his at 2***with 2-amps I ran 2 ohm..

the 1100cca batt we were/are using is just an industrial group31 batt.