Battery Guage

[John Bisordi]

I have a 65 roadster. My battery guage has just begun to act strange. When the RPMs are high, the gauge reads maximum + (It buries in the positive side) Any thoughts on what the problem is...... Jbiso@aol.com

Thanks
John

[Larry Barickman]

Re: Battery Guage

Either the battery is going bad (won't hold a charge)or... the voltage regulator is bad causing over charging. If the regulator is bad it will ruin the battery or worse... cause it to explode.

[John Bisordi]

Re: Battery Guage

I just heard from another friend who had a similar problem. He was only able to correct it with a solid state Voltage regulator. He tried several mechanical voltage regulators and had the same problem until he switched.... Any thoughts or experience with this?
Thanks

[Larry Barickman]

Re: Battery Guage

I would have the battery checked before you do anything else. Many time the battery is the cause of the problem you mentioned.

[John H.]

Re: Battery Guage

Properly-made electromechanical voltage regulators work just fine; no need for electronic/solid-state regulators. My '69 Z/28 has the original regulator on it, and it's working fine after 33 years (knock on wood)

[John Lokay]

Re: Battery Guage

How's does one test, by using a multimeter, to make sure that the voltage regulator is putting out the proper amount of voltage?

[John H.]

Re: Battery Guage

John -

The voltage regulator doesn't put out any voltage - it's just a couple of calibrated relays that function as switches for the alternator (or generator). There's a good diagnostic section for it in the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual.