electrical question about alt and dash gauges

[tripleblkr/t]

I'm having a few issues and I've done a search and cant find any thing similar to what I'm having issues with on my car. The cars a 69 dodge charger and the issues I'm having are the alternator doesn't seem like it working by the looks of the gauge on the dash. So I took my new alternator off and took it in to be checked and turned out to be bad. So now I'm on my second new alternator and this doesn't seem to be working as well, but when I check the battery with an amp meter when it's running it's reading just a hair under 15 volts and when I shut it off a little over 12 volts. When I turn my head lights on the amp gauge in the dash really drops. Any one have any idea what's going on with my car. The battery's telling me I'm getting charge but my dash is acting like it's not?

[b5blue]

Check your battery..."a little over 12 volts" sounds weak to me.

[mopar0166]

voltage regulator? 

or a voltage draw from something

[nascarxx29]

Amp gauge any good and how are the connections on it ?If you leave cables on does battery go dead.Has battery been tested it might be down from alt not working.Also alternator and voltage regulator require a good chassis ground.14.5 across the battery charging sounds right.Mopars do tend to drop the amp gauge with lights or AC on at idle.And should improve by bringing up the engine speed

[tripleblkr/t]

I have a ground wire going from the firewall to the alum. intake. I checked it with a test light to make sure it was a good ground and it lite up. I might try moving it to the steel block and see if it makes any difference.

[nascarxx29]

By the intake you mean is on the corner going on a bolt into the head.That should be a good ground

[tripleblkr/t]

my heads are alum. as well .

[nascarxx29]

Did you try moving ground cable connection to something on the block

[tripleblkr/t]

Not yet but I'll give it a try right now. When I hit it with the test light is showed it being grounded but I guess that method doesnt always work. I give it a shot and see what it does. Thanks Ryan

[nascarxx29]

The lite test for me has been reliable for checking grounds.But you got alum heads .To just be on the safe side find the best ground point available

[tripleblkr/t]

It was the voltage regulator . It was brand new.

[b5blue]

Man I feel your pain what's up with crap new parts! 

[tripleblkr/t]

So I put the battery on the charger last night just so I wouldn't kill the alt and put the battery back in it this morning and my alt gauge is pegged out while driving it and half way at idle. Could this be because the other Field on the alt does not have a good ground(they gave me the 70 and later alt at Advanced and I just went with it because I didn't want to wait for another one, I just grounded the second field out on the case). Or it could be that I"m using an old rusty voltage regulator off a 69 coronet I pulled off out back. It's probably not an electronic voltage regulator and I have electronic ignition.

[b5blue]

OH CRAP! Do a search on this the info is here! Look up how to get that set-up right and get the proper regulator so you don't fry anything! 

[tripleblkr/t]

I just found one that had the same exact issues I'm having now. I'm just excited it's actually going up past half way now(lol). I won't run it any more untill I get my new regulator on it. If that doesn't fix it my alternators coming off and a new single field one is going on. And if that doesnt fix it I'm going to tear every inch of it apart and part it out  .

[b5blue]

Nacho has been telling everyone that the newer late 70's alt charges much better than all others and shows how to hook them up. My 70 is running good stock but I will be doing that mod. as soon as needed!