Typical charging system voltage?

[driverdave]

To any and all of you that have ever driven your SVX while monitoring voltage:

What kind of readings do you get? Does it fluctuate more than you think it should? Does it drop below 12V when idling?

Basically, I've been battling alternator problems lately. I have 2 SVXes; a white one, and a black one. The white one died with no symptoms one day. I had it checked...it was dead. I had it rebuilt (mistake), and it seemed fine for about a month. Then I got the "multiple dash light" symptom. Took it back to rebuilder, and of course they said it was fine. Next, I ordered a Bosch (pretty cheap, so probly not the 110 amp model). Installed Bosch and still had dash lights. Next, I finally found a cheap volt guage for the lighter (jcwhitney) and the Bosch isn't charging. Next, I took the stock alt. out of the black SVX and put it in the white one. No more dash lights. But now I wonder about the voltage readings.

When I first start the car when it's cold, I get 14-14.8 volts. As I drive and it warms up, it starts going down to the 13's. After 20 min of driving (especially if it's hot out) it will hover in the high 12's at driving rpms and drop below 12 to the low 11's when I stop with the A/C on.

I did check the bosch in the black car and it wasn't charging, so it's going back. I then put the rebuilt alt. in the black car and it seems to be charging ok, although, I can't drive it long enough to warm up and see if it also drops the voltage.

Sorry for such a lengthy story, but has anyone else seen similar voltage readings with their SVX?

Any input would be appreciated.