Alternator charging question

[empersons]

I am trying to figure out the charging system on my Camry. Does anyone know what the voltage should be coming out of the alternator where the 3 prong plugs into the side?
maybe someone can school me on how an alternator works, what the power wire going to and from do, etc?

Thanks all

Eric

PS - if anyone cares, I have successfully changed the clutch on this, changed cranks and cam seals, and reinstalled the engine. All with the help of my good friend Luke and from Charlie (white90dx) from the forums and messages. Thank You
Oh yeah, and it started right up

[white90dx]

The voltage you should really be worried about is on the big bolt-on connection, not the 3-pronged plug.

With the engine running, you should be getting >13V there. At higher than idle, it should be around 14V.

Why are you suspecting a problem?

-Charlie

[nitronate33]

technically, the nominal voltage of a car battery is 12.6 volts (2.1 volts per cell X 6 cells). this is approximately what you should get with the car off and nothing pulling a charge (lights, accessories off).

like the above user said, you should get in the mid-to-high 13V range when the car is running and the alternator is functioning properly and charging the battery.

[empersons]

Response to Charlie:
When i leave my car at idle for a 10 minutes or so, the car eventually dies. You can hear it start to die then it stops completely. The alternator is new too.

I did check the battery volts with the car running, getting 12.21-12.26V

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by empersons

Response to Charlie:
When i leave my car at idle for a 10 minutes or so, the car eventually dies. You can hear it start to die then it stops completely. The alternator is new too.

I did check the battery volts with the car running, getting 12.21-12.26V

Ok, so the alternator isn't charging the battery. Put a charger on there (if you have one) and don't drive the car until you get it fixed.

Get the alternator checked, and check all the fuses including the fusible links by the battery. Any warning lights on the dash?

-Charlie

[empersons]

Originally Posted by white90dx

Ok, so the alternator isn't charging the battery. Put a charger on there (if you have one) and don't drive the car until you get it fixed.

Get the alternator checked, and check all the fuses including the fusible links by the battery. Any warning lights on the dash?

-Charlie

I do have a charger so i will try that. I checked the fuses and replaced the fusibles links (all three on the battery). When the idle gets rough before it dies the charge light on the dash comes on.

[empersons]

Confirmed the "new" alternator is bad. Hopefully is it was bad when I bought it and there isn't a short somewhere.