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Thread: Question about the Marauder voltmeter

  1. #1
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    Question about the Marauder voltmeter

    On a true Marauder; how many volts does the gauge read?


    .
    2004 CV LX Sport



    SCT X2, Blue Oval Tune (needs update), ADTR Plenum, 70mm Aviator TB, 80mm MAF, 3.73:1 Auburn Posi rear end, 18-inch Mustang GT Fan-blade wheels with BFG 255/45ZR18 tires, MM Instrumentation, rear spoiler, Mach 1 chin spoiler, Tinted Headlights, Focus Fog lights w/Marauder switch, Honeycomb grille. Next installs: Upgrade exhaust system, lowered 1".

  2. #2
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    When-starting, running, hot day, cold day, a/c compressor clutch in / out, etc?

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
    Ride 1: 2003 300-A MM, black (naturally), K&N cold air, Granitelli Racing coils, Kybe shocks, Autometer "real" oil pressure and voltmeter, 14 inch front rotors and stainless lines from TCE with 6-piston Wilwood calipers and Hawk HPS pads, cryo-treated slotted rear rotors with TCE stainless lines and Hawk HPS pads, tune by Lidio, LED headlamps. Coming Soon: LED foglights, 200 Amp Alternator.

    Ride 2: 2001 Kenny Brown "Panther 2" Crown Victoria, Black. K&N cold air intake to Allen Engine Development supercharger system with water-to-air intercooled Eaton MP-90 at 8 pounds. Extensive chassis bracing, Brembo 4-piston front calipers on 13 inch rotors with stainless lines. Trunk-relocated Optima Red-Top. 5000K Bi-Xenon HID's. And much, much more.

  3. #3
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    Alternator output should be between 13.8 & 14.2 volts.

    "While maximum alternator output is dependent on the rotational speed of the input shaft, the actual output is load-dependent. That basically means that an alternator will never generate more current than is called for by the momentary demands of the electrical system.

    What that means, in the real world, is that while an underpowered alternator can cause problems by not meeting the needs of your electrical system, a substantially overpowered alternator represents a lot of wasted potential. For instance, a high output alternator might be capable of putting out upwards of 300A, but it won’t actually provide more amperage than a stock 80A unit if that’s all the electrical system ever tries to draw."
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  4. #4
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    Thanks for the info.
    But, or Butthead, it finally dawned on me that the voltmeter in the center console pod is reading the battery voltage (which should/will always be 12.5+ volts),not the charging voltage. What a dummy I can be sometimes. So I'm going to connect it to the alternator through a relay.
    2004 CV LX Sport



    SCT X2, Blue Oval Tune (needs update), ADTR Plenum, 70mm Aviator TB, 80mm MAF, 3.73:1 Auburn Posi rear end, 18-inch Mustang GT Fan-blade wheels with BFG 255/45ZR18 tires, MM Instrumentation, rear spoiler, Mach 1 chin spoiler, Tinted Headlights, Focus Fog lights w/Marauder switch, Honeycomb grille. Next installs: Upgrade exhaust system, lowered 1".

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by CrownVic75 View Post
    Thanks for the info.
    But, or Butthead, it finally dawned on me that the voltmeter in the center console pod is reading the battery voltage (which should/will always be 12.5+ volts),not the charging voltage. What a dummy I can be sometimes. So I'm going to connect it to the alternator through a relay.
    In theory, the only difference between the voltage measured at the battery and the voltage measured at the alternator is due to the resistance of the cable connecting the alternator output to the battery. Batteries are not constant voltage devices; the voltage at the terminals will vary depending on a number of factors such as battery condition, temperature, and load.

    There is a mod available to upgrade the cable from alternator to battery and improve some of the ground cables. Someone here with a better memory than mine can post the name of that mod or a link to it.

    Why do you need a relay to connect a battery to a voltmeter? Just curious.

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
    Ride 1: 2003 300-A MM, black (naturally), K&N cold air, Granitelli Racing coils, Kybe shocks, Autometer "real" oil pressure and voltmeter, 14 inch front rotors and stainless lines from TCE with 6-piston Wilwood calipers and Hawk HPS pads, cryo-treated slotted rear rotors with TCE stainless lines and Hawk HPS pads, tune by Lidio, LED headlamps. Coming Soon: LED foglights, 200 Amp Alternator.

    Ride 2: 2001 Kenny Brown "Panther 2" Crown Victoria, Black. K&N cold air intake to Allen Engine Development supercharger system with water-to-air intercooled Eaton MP-90 at 8 pounds. Extensive chassis bracing, Brembo 4-piston front calipers on 13 inch rotors with stainless lines. Trunk-relocated Optima Red-Top. 5000K Bi-Xenon HID's. And much, much more.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by CrownVic75 View Post
    Thanks for the info.
    But, or Butthead, it finally dawned on me that the voltmeter in the center console pod is reading the battery voltage (which should/will always be 12.5+ volts),not the charging voltage. What a dummy I can be sometimes. So I'm going to connect it to the alternator through a relay.


    What?? If you’re only seeing 12.5 then you have other issues. The only way that gauge would ever read just battery voltage is if you disconnected the alternator.

    Why else would everyone else’s car register high 13’s to low 14’s with only a 12V battery?


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    Cobra short block / ProCharger F1-A / Cog drive upgrade / Manley valves / Brian Tooley Racing valve springs / 80# inj. / -8 fuel line / -6 return / Aeromotive 340 pumps and regulator / 2012 GT500 TR6060 six speed / twin disc clutch / Driveshaft Shop GT500 upgraded CV joint shaft / BA5000 blow thru MAF/ 4.10's / Ford Racing 31 spline set up and Girdle / Metco D.S. safety loop / Stainless Works headers, cats, and everything else out back / ClassGlass hood / Bob's hood strut mod / Hurst line lock / Metco control arms / Addco front and rear sway bars / Monroe severe duty shocks all around / Race concepts rotors / Badgeless grille / 35% tint / FBM's interior LED kit and ambient lighting kit / Pioneer FB700 deck / kenwood speaker 4 Ch. / Rockford Fosgate 10" sub and amp / Kicker 6 X 8's all around / back up cam / bluetooth / Pioneer Xm / 704 RWHP 603 RWTQ tuned by Mo's Speedshop.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteelQualityMan View Post

    Why do you need a relay to connect a battery to a voltmeter? Just curious.

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
    Even though the voltmeter doesn't draw much current (not a concern) if I connect it straight to the battery it would be "on" all the time, even with the key off. So I figured if I put a relay between the voltmeter and the battery and connect the relay "pick coil" to a "Voltage in Run or Acc." fuse/connection, the voltmeter would only be active when the key is on.

    My theory is (as someone else stated) that the alternator is the "heart" of the car's electrical system. The battery is only used to start the engine. I thought it might be more advantageous to monitor the alternator.

    I'm in my 70s now, but back in the day (when I was a teenager working on hot rods) most cars had ammeters, not voltmeters. One could tell if the "generator" (before alternators) was charging the battery and running the car. High current or no current draw, meant problems. During the middle to late 1960s manufacturers changed to alternators and put in a voltmeter.



    .
    2004 CV LX Sport



    SCT X2, Blue Oval Tune (needs update), ADTR Plenum, 70mm Aviator TB, 80mm MAF, 3.73:1 Auburn Posi rear end, 18-inch Mustang GT Fan-blade wheels with BFG 255/45ZR18 tires, MM Instrumentation, rear spoiler, Mach 1 chin spoiler, Tinted Headlights, Focus Fog lights w/Marauder switch, Honeycomb grille. Next installs: Upgrade exhaust system, lowered 1".

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by justbob View Post
    What?? If you’re only seeing 12.5 then you have other issues. The only way that gauge would ever read just battery voltage is if you disconnected the alternator.

    Why else would everyone else’s car register high 13’s to low 14’s with only a 12V battery?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Well, my problem here is that I allowed an idiot, at a "Custom Cars" shop, to install the Marauder instrument cluster and the two gauge pod. I've already documented that mistake in another post. As of yet, I have not had time to trace down how he connected the voltmeter. But IMO he connected the voltmeter to the wrong voltage source. (It's supposed to be connected to the center console's power lead.) That's why I'm asking these stupid questions.

    Last week I installed a new battery and swapped the 4g alternator for a 6g, 200amp, alternator, yet the voltmeter inside the car always reads less than 13 volts. But a multimeter at the battery reads 13.9-14.2 volts. Thus my concerns.


    .
    2004 CV LX Sport



    SCT X2, Blue Oval Tune (needs update), ADTR Plenum, 70mm Aviator TB, 80mm MAF, 3.73:1 Auburn Posi rear end, 18-inch Mustang GT Fan-blade wheels with BFG 255/45ZR18 tires, MM Instrumentation, rear spoiler, Mach 1 chin spoiler, Tinted Headlights, Focus Fog lights w/Marauder switch, Honeycomb grille. Next installs: Upgrade exhaust system, lowered 1".

  9. #9
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    I don't think the OEM voltmeter is highly accurate, but it should be reasonably close.

    I think the point you may be missing is that the alternator is connected directly to the battery (via a couple of fusible links) so no matter where your ersatz technician connected the voltmeter, it should still track. It'll read a little less with the engine off and maybe a volt to a volt and a half more with the engine running. If it's just stting there reading the same voltage all the time, it's defective.
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by CrownVic75 View Post
    Even though the voltmeter doesn't draw much current (not a concern) if I connect it straight to the battery it would be "on" all the time, even with the key off. So I figured if I put a relay between the voltmeter and the battery and connect the relay "pick coil" to a "Voltage in Run or Acc." fuse/connection, the voltmeter would only be active when the key is on.

    My theory is (as someone else stated) that the alternator is the "heart" of the car's electrical system. The battery is only used to start the engine. I thought it might be more advantageous to monitor the alternator.

    I'm in my 70s now, but back in the day (when I was a teenager working on hot rods) most cars had ammeters, not voltmeters. One could tell if the "generator" (before alternators) was charging the battery and running the car. High current or no current draw, meant problems. During the middle to late 1960s manufacturers changed to alternators and put in a voltmeter.



    .
    Alternator output ==battery input. Any significant difference would be a defective cable or bad connections. Disconnect the battery cable and check it with an ohmmeter. It should read essentially a dead short. Do the same with the negative cable.

    I understand your explanation about the relay, but I would be willing to bet that the receiver circuit for remote door and trunk unlock draws more current than a quality voltmeter. If you are in doubt about the condition of the under hood or under dash wiring then run a wire directly to the battery positive stud on the side of the under hood fuse box. That is what I use for any voltage testing.

    Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
    Ride 1: 2003 300-A MM, black (naturally), K&N cold air, Granitelli Racing coils, Kybe shocks, Autometer "real" oil pressure and voltmeter, 14 inch front rotors and stainless lines from TCE with 6-piston Wilwood calipers and Hawk HPS pads, cryo-treated slotted rear rotors with TCE stainless lines and Hawk HPS pads, tune by Lidio, LED headlamps. Coming Soon: LED foglights, 200 Amp Alternator.

    Ride 2: 2001 Kenny Brown "Panther 2" Crown Victoria, Black. K&N cold air intake to Allen Engine Development supercharger system with water-to-air intercooled Eaton MP-90 at 8 pounds. Extensive chassis bracing, Brembo 4-piston front calipers on 13 inch rotors with stainless lines. Trunk-relocated Optima Red-Top. 5000K Bi-Xenon HID's. And much, much more.

  11. #11
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    SteelQualityMan

    If it's wired to the BJB side stud is't the voltmeter reading all the time?


    .
    2004 CV LX Sport



    SCT X2, Blue Oval Tune (needs update), ADTR Plenum, 70mm Aviator TB, 80mm MAF, 3.73:1 Auburn Posi rear end, 18-inch Mustang GT Fan-blade wheels with BFG 255/45ZR18 tires, MM Instrumentation, rear spoiler, Mach 1 chin spoiler, Tinted Headlights, Focus Fog lights w/Marauder switch, Honeycomb grille. Next installs: Upgrade exhaust system, lowered 1".

  12. #12
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    Question about the Marauder voltmeter

    Pull the gauge pod, test wiring with a multimeter, rule out bad gauge. If gauge is good, cut the positive wire and heat shrink the end. Re route positive wire to cigar lighter. Done.

    Chances are that is what he already tied into because it is the simplest route and your gauge is junk. A quick multimeter test is quicker than re wiring, adding relays, or starting threads IMO.

    Just verify your actual voltage at the gauge and the cigar lighter before further diagnosing.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by justbob; 08-25-2018 at 09:46 PM.
    SOLD 12/31/2021

    Cobra short block / ProCharger F1-A / Cog drive upgrade / Manley valves / Brian Tooley Racing valve springs / 80# inj. / -8 fuel line / -6 return / Aeromotive 340 pumps and regulator / 2012 GT500 TR6060 six speed / twin disc clutch / Driveshaft Shop GT500 upgraded CV joint shaft / BA5000 blow thru MAF/ 4.10's / Ford Racing 31 spline set up and Girdle / Metco D.S. safety loop / Stainless Works headers, cats, and everything else out back / ClassGlass hood / Bob's hood strut mod / Hurst line lock / Metco control arms / Addco front and rear sway bars / Monroe severe duty shocks all around / Race concepts rotors / Badgeless grille / 35% tint / FBM's interior LED kit and ambient lighting kit / Pioneer FB700 deck / kenwood speaker 4 Ch. / Rockford Fosgate 10" sub and amp / Kicker 6 X 8's all around / back up cam / bluetooth / Pioneer Xm / 704 RWHP 603 RWTQ tuned by Mo's Speedshop.

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