AC Ripple Test at the Alternator.

AC ripple is an unwanted fluctuation in the electrical current, which can cause problems for your vehicle's electrical system.

To perform this test, we'll need an oscilloscope, an amperage probe, and access to the alternator and battery. While the battery can act as a shock absorber, it ranks #2 in waveform compared to connecting to the alternator output. So, let's start by connecting our amperage probe to the alternator output and our oscilloscope to the probe.

Next, we'll start the vehicle and observe the waveform on our oscilloscope. If we see excessive AC ripple, it could indicate a faulty alternator. Finally, we'll move on to testing across the battery terminals to confirm our findings.

Performing AC ripple testing with an oscilloscope is crucial for maintaining your vehicle's electrical system. By following these steps, you can identify and fix any issues before they become major problems. Thanks for watching, and I hope this video was helpful

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Currently checking with a Fluke115 but looking forward to using a scope