General Cold Weather Voltage ?

[joed]

I've noticed over the last few years that my voltage gauge always reads higher with colder weather versus summer and wondered why.

Does the regulator in the alternator (or PCM if applicable) compensate for colder temps and increase the voltage? Or is it just a matter of colder wires having more resistance?

Just curious.

Thanks. Joe.

[JohnC]

The battery is more resistant to the charging current when cold. The regulator is temperature compensated for this reason.

Wires have less resistance when cold, but it is not significant at these temperatures.

[Robyn]

MNy DaHooooley will show over 14 volts on the gauge when everything is cold.
Once the truck warms up it drops off to below the 14 mark.
The alternator is still showing 14.5 volts.

My take is that the instruments are a tad flakey and when the dash and the cluster warm up that things change.

Both my current GM rigs do this and just about the same amount too.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Robyn