You can test it with a simple digital DC voltmeter. Set the voltage of the meter to the 20 Volt DC scale. Start the engine and let it idle. You should read 13.5 to 15.5 Volts at the battery posts. Any less than 13 or more than 16 volts and the alternator is suspect. Best to drive it to your local auto parts store where they will inspect the charging system for free.
Yes you can take negative off on all cars and test it if it dies alternator is bad if car keeps running then its good. In older (not computer controlled) cars you can, but on some newer (computer control) cars is not recommended. Some newer cars will turn off even if the alternator is working good. Use a volt meter to test the voltage. Connect it to the battery and it should read a little above 12 volts when its off and 13 to 14 volts when its turn on. If the voltage does not go up, then the alternator is not charging.
Charge it, replace it,test the alternator,Charge it, replace it,test the alternator,
cars over 20 years old
No, the regulator in the alternator only regulates when the alternator is charging (alternator must be rotating).
The charging system on modern cars has 2 parts. The alternator and battery. On older cars there is also the voyage regulator. On modern cars it is built into the alternator. The electrical system however has many more parts.Alternator, voltage regulator, and alternator belt. The batteries themselves are part of the cranking system, not the charging system.
The positive cable between the alternator and the battery has an open circuit or break. There also is a set of wires that plug into the alternator that turns it on when the car is running. Wiring problems here can cause a alternator not to charge on the vehicle but works fine on a test stand. Some cars the alternator light in the dash causes the alternator to kick in when the engine is started. A burned out light in the dash causes the alternator not to charge.
Car would either have to be running or alternator removed for bench test
Chances are you drained your battery when your alternator failed to maintain your cars regular running functions. You should take the battery to your local auto parts store, they should be able to test it for free.
You can do this although,Why would you want to? If you need extra power from the alternator then you can buy an alternator that has a higher output. Some cars do not allow you to upgrade to a higher output alternator though (My Mazda Protege5) In this case things get a little more complicated..... You must customize a mount for the second alternator (I removed my AC pump and put alternator there) This way I did not need another belt etc. Just had to make a custom mounting bracket. Then you will need to wire it up, which would be specific to your application.
Charge and load test battery- it may be not able to take a charge and need to be replaced You may a have blown fuseable link preventing alternator from charging battery
run it and then disconnect the negative wire from the battery if alternator dies its bad.
Only if the battery fails the load test.