There are 3 components in the charging loop. A voltmeter across the battery will show who has failed in the loop. By watching volt numbers you can pinpoint the downed component.
Battery: Volts means PUSH. So think of a starter motor needing to push the engine over. Ideal battery numbers are anything over 12.8v. So to see if the battery is holding up its job is to watch it drop in volts as you conduct a load test on the battery. If it drops past 11.1v being the ideal number, then it is considered not healthy enough to hold volts.
To see a good battery is to watch the voltage return to it's ideal 12.8v once the engine starts. Things like key on, the battery cannot hold the 12.8v having the taillight on, the current needed for the ECM, possible headlight on, this should sill maintain its 12.8 voltage. Key on, battery drops voltage is a sign of a deteriorating cell(s) in the battery.
Voltage Regulator: When the engine starts, the battery voltage immediately changes to 14.4v at idle. So to constantly watch the meter upon startup, you'll see the recovery number of 12.8v, then switches almost immediately to 14.4v at the meter. This rules out the VR being the problem child of the loop. If you saw 15v+ at the meter, it shows straight stator voltage direct to battery. This will cook or overheat the battery to cause a bulge of the battery case, to boiling the acid and can smell that sulfur odor showing a failed VR.
Stator: By looking at the whole starting procedure, exposing those (ideal) meter values, the battery shows no change upon its recovery number of 12.8v, remains that constant no matter it idling or revving to show a higher output number, it shows the battery can recover, it shows the VR is good, but shows that stator is at fault of recharging the battery.
So the correct voltage sequence of watching the meter goes something like this:
12.8v = Fully charge, key on.
11.1v = Load test of the battery.
12.8v = The recovery number when engine starts up, starter button released.
14.4v = The VR immediately kicks in and no longer is above that number (give or take).
A. Meter read of who is at fault in the charging loop:
12.8v = A static number with no load.
10 - 9v = A battery being load tested via starter motor.
12.1v = The recovery number of the battery no longer stores PUSH.
14.7v = Shows VR is trying to replenish the bad battery so both stator and VR are good, battery is the problem.
B. Voltage Regulator:
12.8v = Key on, no load.
11.1v = Load test.
12.8v = Battery recovery number shows good.
15v+ = VR can no longer regulate AC voltage.
C. Stator:
12.8v = Static number, key on.
11.1v = Starter load number.
12.8v = Recovery number.
12.8v = Stator cannot produce AC show stator is burned out.
Signed,
NOLTT