How many watts does an alternator produce at idle?
How many watts does an alternator produce at idle? The output of the alternator is usually stamped on the alternator in a form that looks like this, 40/100A 13.5V . This tells you that at engine idle, the alternator will output 40 amps at 13.5 volts (540 watts). If the load exceeds 40 amps the voltage will drop below the 13.5 volt level. How many amps does a car use at idle? Typical Current Loads for Automotive Systems, Lighting and Accessories: Engine Idling (no lights or accessories on) - 35 to 50 amps. What should the voltage be on a...