Is it true that on a 1980 Corvette that you havee to rev the engine above 2300 rpm once to get the altenator to start charging?

Asked by 1980vetter Jan 13, 2015 at 03:35 PM about the 1980 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Question type: General

Corvette world replaced the alternator and forgot to tell me that you have to rev the car above 2200 rpm once each time that I start the car to get the alernator to start charging.  Is this true?  I never got the car above 2100 driving home last night and ran the battery down.

1 Answer

50,595

No that is not true. Once the belt on the front of the engine that is connected to your alternator is turning, the armature in the alternator is turning, it is producing electricity. The faster it turns the more amps, (power) it puts out. There is no electrical circuit connected to any normally produced automobile that requires a set speed of the alternator to activate any electrical products. If you have an alternator gauge, you will notice the faster the engine revs, the more output the alternator puts out up to a set point. there as far as I know, no need to rev your engine above 2000 rpms to activate anything. If the friend or confidant disagrees, find out why he is saying this, and let us know here.

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