Alternator charging voltage

[Slap_ed]

I have a 2014 1.6 Transit Connect. In cold weather it starts first time straight away which is a good thing, but the cranking speed is not brilliant. I checked the alternator charging voltage early one cold morning and found the following voltages.
9.58 volts Lowest reading during starting.
15.83 volts Max/Peak. Putting all electrical equipment on. Maybe a spiked reading.
14.74 volts average (approx 10 minute period)
14.90 volts live reading.
All these were pretty much at tickover.
Any technical bods that can say that this voltage is cooking my battery as I’m thinking that 14.2 volts Max would be the safe limit?
Thanks in advance.

[Dogwatch]

Is the battery original? Could be that someone has saved a few bob by fitting a smaller capacity battery than the starter requires. This is nothing to do with voltage; the alternator output seems about right.

[Slap_ed]

Yes I’ve had the van from new and it’s the original battery. I’m just thinking that the charging voltage is just a little too high at nearly 15 volts.

[carguy143]

Slap_ed said:

Yes I’ve had the van from new and it’s the original battery. I’m just thinking that the charging voltage is just a little too high at nearly 15 volts.

Look up Ford smart charging. The system allows my Mondeo to charge at up to 17 volts.

[Slap_ed]

Thanks carguy, that makes an interesting read. So maybe it’s just a case that the battery is on its way out and not being overcharged.