Voltage gauge accuracy?

[mustang1]

I checked my car. I have a cigarette lighter power adapter for my dash cam, that includes a voltage display.

Before startup , adapter showed 12.5, digital display showed 11.4.

Started the car, adapter 14.1, and digital display 13.9.

Turned off the car. Adapter 12.5. Digital display, 11.9

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[BlownGP]

Soo, 12.2v to 13.8V is normal?

I just noticed today because my Ngauge would keep shutting off because in the settings I think the sleep mode comes on when it goes below 12.7 volts.

So I was monitoring the Volts display in the cluster and driving around it would stay at around 12.2 to 12.4ish. I was like that seems low from what I'm used to.
Then it would jump back up to almost 14V when I hit the brakes slowing down. Then drop back down to 12.2v while driving.

So this is normal?

 

[GT Pony]

Soo, 12.2v to 13.8V is normal?

I just noticed today because my Ngauge would keep shutting because in the settings I think the sleep mode comes on when it goes below 12.7 volts.

So I was monitoring the Volts display in the cluster and driving around it would stay at around 12.2 to 12.4ish. I was like that seems low from what I'm used to.
Then it would jump back up to almost 14V when I hit the brakes slowing down. Then drop back down to 12.2v while driving.

So this is normal?

Mine seems to always stay right around 14 volts on the dash gauge while driving around.

The OEM batteries are know to need distilled water added to them quite often. I've added distilled water twice to mine already. Pop the two caps off the top of the battery and check the level of the cells.

 

[BlownGP]

Mine seems to always stay right around 14 volts on the dash gauge while driving around.

The OEM batteries are know to need distilled water added to them quite often. I've added distilled water twice to mine already. Pop the two caps off the top of the battery and check the level of the cells.

Will have to check tomorrow. Thanks

 

[thehunterooo]

I hate all of this battery management BS. Get the Mustang in low power mode without a way to reset it and it sucks. Can’t even use the back up camera anymore....

 

[Carzzi]

I've inferred that the charging system juices the when I'm coasting in gear— not when I'm accelerating. I noticed that the voltage spikes from low-12.xV when on throttle to 13~14V when decelerating.

 

[Spike-S550]

There's a Digital Voltmeter on the Dash ? Oh yea found it !

 

[M151A2]

I wouldn't worry about it much.
Depending on the temperature, a healthy battery should be 12.66 volts.
The Smart Charging system will reduce the voltage output of the generator (alternator) once the battery is charged after starting to about 13 volts to prevent "boil over".

You can actually calculate the battery life by it's voltage. I'm sure what you are reading on the gauge is a calculated voltage. It seems all gauges on mine are somewhat out of wack. for example, I have a mechanical roush gauge for Vacuum and boost. The dash gauge reads about 5 inches difference from the mechanical gauge.

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