How to Determine if a Car Alternator is Generating Electricity?

[DiCourtney]

To determine if a car alternator is generating electricity, you can use a voltmeter or an external ammeter for testing. Below are the relevant methods to check if the car alternator is not generating electricity: 1. Using a voltmeter: When the car is running, set the multimeter to the DC voltage 30V range at the battery terminal. Connect the red probe to the alternator's 'armature' terminal and the black probe to the casing. Run the engine at medium speed or higher. The standard voltage for a 12V electrical system should be around 14V, while for a 24V electrical system, it should be around 28V. 2. Using an external ammeter: If the car dashboard does not have an ammeter, you can use an external DC ammeter for testing. First, disconnect the wire from the alternator's 'armature' terminal, then connect the positive terminal of a DC ammeter (with a range of about 20A) to the alternator's 'armature' and the negative terminal to the previously disconnected wire.