Does the "battery voltage" readout on the panel show the actual battery voltage or the system voltage that is charging the battery? The reason I ask is that I have been showing 12.7 - 13.2 volts and I know that the 12 volt battery won't put out that much. Anybody have an idea as to what is going on?

Mine reads 14.2 mostly when it gets to the low 13's I charge my battery. What is the condition of your bat? Hot weather short trips and long periods of non use equals gettin stuck somewhere. The C5 eats voltage even while sleeping. If the bat is alright how about the connections? Next is the altenator but it probably is your bat is in need of some charger time Best of luck

hey baron,

the best way to know the actual battery voltage is to turn to the key to the acc positon but dont turn the car on. then check the digital reading on the dash. it should say 12v if it doesnt something is pulling volts. its normal for the digital reading to go back in forth when the car is running.

If the engine is running it's the alternator output. As mentioned above, turn the key but don't start the engine and it's battery readout.

A fully charged lead acid cell - nominally 2 volts - will read 2.2v, i.e. 13.2v for a fully charged 12v battery. My car usually reads 12 and change on my multimeter with engine off.

I went on a couple of hundered mile cruise yesterday with my car club and mine read 13.8 all day.