charging problem

[JohnZepka]

I put a new single field alternator on my 66 charger, put a new voltage regulator on, replaced 2 wires one going to regulator from alt one going to bulkhead from regulator.  Started car lights flickered so I figured I was getting a charge. Volt tested regulator and ammeter connections 15volts.  Took off regulator to try and adjust power put it back on and got no charge.  Tested field connection on alt got 3volts.  Everything else is now on battery power.  I'm stumped.  Is something killing my alternators and/or regulators?

[John_Kunkel]

If the regulator is good, the 15 volt reading means the regulator thinks the battery is low on charge, has the battery been tested? The 3 volt reading at the field terminal with 15 volts everywhere else points to a bad alternator.

Disconnect the blue ign feed wire from the regulator and rig a jumper wire from the regulator directly to the battery positive post. If everything works normally there is a problem with the ignition feed to the regulator (bulkhead connector?).

Be sure that the regulator is well grounded to the firewall and that there is a good ground strap between the engine and the firewall. Clean the contact points to bare metal.

[JohnZepka]

Had alt tested to make sure and its good.  Cleaned up all grounds and hooked it all back up but I used a regulator I already had (may or may not be good) and still no charge.  If I had a poor ground at the regulator/firewall connection would this make my lights flicker and jump crazy, and would it kill my regulators?  If I bypass the regulator/ignition connection everythings good except I don't get a charge. Battery power only. Any more answers would be greatly appreciated. 

[John_Kunkel]

If I bypass the regulator/ignition connection

What do you mean by "bypass"?

everythings good except I don't get a charge. Battery power only.

How can everything be "good" if it doesn't charge?

If you jumper the regulator IGN terminal directly to the battery what happens?

Do you have a ground wire between the engine and the body?

[JohnZepka]

Sorry about that bypass.  What I mean is if I unhook the connection at the regulator, not the field, the ignition/resistor wire, then I run on battery power only. Now you want me to connect the regualtor directly to the battery with or without the resistor connected.  I understand that would eliminate from bulkhead to ignition switch but at this point I don't know if I have a working regulator.  Do you think bad ground or loss of ground at the regulator/firewall could be my problem.  I do have a ground from my block to the firewall.  Thanks for your time John.  Your name is my name too.

[JohnZepka]

Hooked up the battery to regulator like you said same results.  Don't think I have a working regulator though cause points are not moving when car is running.  Been through 2 so far.

[JohnZepka]

Still trying to figure this out, could the starter relay or horn relay have any play in my problems?  Current does flow through both?

[John_Kunkel]

By hooking the IGN side of the regulator directly to the battery you eliminated the ignition switch, underdash wiring and the bulkhead connector as the problem.

Now hook the battery directly to the field wire, this should make the alternator put out its maximum voltage. If it does, the regulator is bad or the grounds aren't clean.

[JohnZepka]

O.K. I put another regulator on today and I'm finally getting a charge, however I'm getting at least 15volts out of everywhere I tested and like 12 or 13 volts coming out of the resistor. Is that too much?  I also was getting water out of the battery,  I put some water in and charged it.  Car was only running 5 minutes or so but still water was coming out of filler area.  Is the battery bad maybe now and trying to pull too much power?

[JohnZepka]

I definitely am pushing too much electrical power.  Everything is grounded.  Where am I going wrong?  I have a ground from the battery to the block, from the block to the firewall, regulator is on the firewall, even cleaned up bolts to everything and scrapped some paint off the firewall.  Overcharging!  Help I need a hero I'm drowning.