Hook up a voltmeter to the battery terminals and start the vehicle with nothing on. You should get a reading from 13.50 to 15.0 volts. Perfect setting is 14.2. A higher reading tends to overcharge the battery and a lower setting doesn't charge the battery fully. Turn a fair amount of stuff on (headlights and heater, etc.) speed the engine up and see if voltage remains between 13.5 and 15.0 volts. This shows that the alternator is keeping up with demand and alternator is working good.
Any one using a voltage test instrument can measure charge differential voltage.
You just need an accurate voltage meter. Connect the meter to the poles of the battery. Start the engine and avoid spinning her up, even not for a short moment. The reading of the meter now can be anything; a reading lower than 12.6 volt indicates a weak battery. Slowly increase the engine speed. The meter reading should increase too, but will get "catched" at an engine speed somewhere at 1000 rpm. (8001200) From then on the reading will stay "locked". It should be 13.8V; 0.5V higher or lower is the limit of what is acceptable. A voltage too high is NOT good: it will ruin your battery and wear out bulbs and other equipment! A voltage regulator is good when the reading hardly reacts to change of engine speed or to adding power consumers like electric window heaters or main headlights. Ans 2: sometims the voltage regulator is faulty when the remainder of the alternator is OK so it's worth considering replacing the regulator first because it is less expensive and sometimes it can be removed and replaced without taking the alternator off the car.
Put a test meter on the end of the D-cell battery
The way to test an alternator is to take it out and take it to a parts store, most will test it for free. If you want to test your alternator yourself you will need a volt meter. Start the car and have someone rev the motor to 2000 rpms and put your volt meter across the battery terminals ( pos to pos, neg to neg ). You should read 13.5 to 14 volts. If the reading is higher the voltage regulator is bad. If the reading is lower your alternator is not charging the battery sufficiently.
A sweep test is a method that determines the frequency response of a cable by its generation of RF voltage. This frequency should be varied at a rapid constant rate.
A charging system test is done to check the internal voltage regulator. It can be done at any auto parts place.
with a regulator tester kohler sale one that will test most regulators
How_do_you_check_your_voltage_regurlator_on_your_motorcycle
with a kohler regulator tester
You need the test equipment and a bunch of knowhow.
With engine running, ensure system voltage is in the 13-14 volt range.
it is inside the alternater, not stand alone.
Usually the voltage supplied to your battery when the engine is running is about 13.5-14 volts max. If the output is higher or lower than 12 volts, then the regulator could be faulty. hope this helps
You will need to go to a repair shop and have them test the charging system.
have the battery checked and test the voltage regulator
Test/replace the voltage regulator. The year, make and model info would help.
To get to an internal voltage regulator first disconnect the battery ground ( negative cable ) then remove the alternator. Make sure you mark the cables on the alternator so you can put them back exactly where they are supposed to go. The voltage regulator is inside the alternator and you will have to take it apart. I'm not sure how the regulator is mounted in your alternator, it might have small studs with nuts on them, or small screws or bolts, or it may be soldered in. In the latter case you will have to cut out the voltage regulator and solder in the new one. If you are going to take out the alternator anyway you should probably take it to a parts store where they will test it for free and tell you if you need a whole new alternator or just the voltage regulator.