I just read that it's a good idea to add more ground to my battery, since when I use the power windows etc the volts drop a bit. ( I realise this is pretty normal but I read that if you add more ground then the volts should stay at a constant reading? I got a kickass 520cca battery so that is all good, and I'm getting a healthy 14V while driving but yeah when I use elec **** it drops to like 12-13V, just wondering if adding any more grounds will help and if so, how do I do that! realise it isn't a HUGE issue but just curious if anything can be done. When I operate the turn signal the volts go down and back up in rhythm with each "click" of the left or right indicator light!

 

Ive got the same situation... along with an electric fan.... while I run the efan, lights, and blower, the volts will drop below 12 actually... and with my previous battery would, in thick downtown drivin, drain the battery, so it ended up being a dance between overheating, and having the volts drain down to 9-10 volts.... I have since bought a deep cycle battery, meant for marine use (boats not army). It apparently has 1000 cca and a 115 minute backup charge stored... I asked for a deep cycle battery, and this is what they brought me... Seems to work good so far. I need to do an altinator upgrade.

 

I'm ALWAYS running at the line below twelve. . . .

 

hmmm im usually running around13.5-14 unless i use the windows or my system is bumping pretty hard.. i usually never go below 12.5 though....sry though i have no clue on how to produce more ground

 

Having a good ground is important. I have a very short, and quite thick cable earthing my system.

You should make sure your ground is good, and if the voltage drops continue maybe think about a bigger alt and/or bigger battery etc. Although dropping to 12-13V isn't so bad.

 

i have the same thing on my SE as well, but upgrading to an s4 alternator would also help out a bit

 

Replace all the cables and start from scratch. Then ground from the strut tower(main ground for the car) to the alternator bolt. My car runs 14volts constant and 13 or so with my big *** system on and the windows going down.

John

 

The original FB cables are aluminum, not copper! A stupid thing. Replace them with copper from the auto store, or, better yet, with welding cable from the arc welding shop. Thousands of strands take advantage of the 'surface effect' (electricity tends to run on the surface of wires, not the core). And they're much more flexible. Get good terminal clamps at a marine supply shop, like West Marine.

B

 

Ok, it's not like a big problem or anything I'm just curious as to if it can be fixed so that when I use electrical stuff the volts wont drop at all but I'm tipping it's really suppose to do that since you are draining power. As I said it's only dropping to 13V so it's not a biggy just curious. I already put in a S4 Alternator and that has worked great guns.

 

Yea well the only real way to tell what your charging at would be to take a multi meter and check at the battery what the volts are at. 13.5-14 is good. You never know with that 20yr old guage. Grounds to the engine and frame are good. 4guage wire is more than sufficient and yes welding wire is tip top, plus it's nicely insulated.