I want to test the charging system and the shop manual says to connect a carbon pile to the battery, running at 2500RPM for 30 seconds. Should return 124A +/-15A.......I do not really want to buy yet another tool I will seldom use (haha). Are there any other ways to do this sort of test? Turn on rear defrost, heated seats, lights, fan to high? I am pretty sure that this is the alternator. The voltage sways between 12.4 running in idle (drive) and drops to low-mid 11v range with the fan on high. Drops down to low 10v range when I put the rear defrost on. Thanks,Mike
Carbon pile. state of the art, 1970's technology Google "current clamp" on Ebay and take your pick. Sounds like your alternator though.
