Is 14.3 volts too high?

[Goodman98155]

I have installed a 'smart' battery charger (NOCO Genius GEN2 20 Amp 2-Bank On-Board Battery Charger) and also a little hard-wired USB port/voltmeter.

The Noco is all green lights and has had no apparent problems but I am concerned that the little voltmeter sometimes reads as high as 14.3 volts.

In a 12 volt system, am I frying my electronics (Garmin, stereo, VHF etc)?

While on shore power, I love knowing that I can run just about anything DC I want and the 20amp charger will keep up but is it too much?

I have checked with my DMM and get roughly the same results (14.1) on the circuit that the little USB volt meter is on btw.

 

[alldodge]

Your ok, all is good
Bulk charging is between 14.4 to 15 volts and normally doesn't get to 15V.

 

[GA_Boater]

Most modern electronics can take as much power as 20 volts. Humminbirds have a range of 10.8 to 20 volts. Although I wouldn't want to charge a battery at 20 volts.

You're safe.

 

[KD4UPL]

If it's LOWER than about 14 volts with the engine running then you have an alternator problem because it wouldn't be charging your battery.
If you ever do see it at 12 volts with the engine off it means your battery is pretty well depleted.
14.3 is a good strong voltage indicating your alternator is working.

 

[gm280]

As previously stated, today's electronics are well protected. And they have on-board (built in) voltage regulation circuitry for just that reason. So worry no more, it's all good.

 

[GA_Boater]

Yeah, but at 10.8 volts your Humminbird will be working and the starter will be clickin'. Time to row. :smile:

 

[Goodman98155]

Thanks all- I am relieved and pretty happy with the Noco charger. It seems like a quality unit.

 

[H20Rat]

Anything north of 16v is where i get worried. Spent a lot of my years doing competition car audio, and some competitions allowed the vehicle to be running. One trick to 'cheat' was to find an adjustable voltage regulator and amps that didn't do voltage regulation, so more voltage = more power! Learned the expensive way that things tend to start releasing the magic smoke when you get near the 17v region, so anything above 16v is danger zone.