"Creeping" alternator gauge reading

[billschroeder5842]

I'm perplexed...I bought a new battery a couple of weeks ago and it put it into my '69. The initial read on the alternator gauge was in the center slightly to the right. As I drive the car (couple of times a week) I noticed that the needle is slowly creeping to the right-first read 5ish, then 10ish and now 15ish.

The car runs great and there does not seem to be any other (for the moment-it is a Mopar) electrical issues, so why is it doing that?

What do I need to check?

Thanks!

[RECHRGD]

It sounds to me like your new battery is bad.  If the gauge is creeping more and more to the left (charging) the battery is getting weaker and weaker as you drive.  Have the battery tested.  Bob

[elacruze]

It sounds to me like your new battery is bad.  If the gauge is creeping more and more to the left (charging) the battery is getting weaker and weaker as you drive.  Have the battery tested.  Bob

+1

[Nacho-RT74]

needle moving to right ? that's charging side...

it is moving to right side when giving throttle ? or iddling ?

how it is the needle when iddling and begining to use accesories, lights ? death center too? geared?

[billschroeder5842]

needle seems to move "normally" so when at idle with accessories on, the needle is discharge, when starting the needle jumps to the right, then settles down more to the middle.

The battery is only a month old but it can still be bad...I'll check it....

[b5blue]

Check alt. output at idle, check regulator and grounds.    (Batt. should read 13.75 Volts at min.)

[elacruze]

Check alt. output at idle, check regulator and grounds.    (Batt. should read 13.75 Volts at min.)

Aye, the problem could be short-trip driving; if you don't get the battery fully charged every time you drive, the alternator has to work a little harder every time you drive...eventually you'll find a dead battery. Stock alternators charge little if at all at idle, so short slow drives drain the battery particularly if you have accessories running, or MSD ignition etc.

[Drache]

For me if I have the car idling and the fan on the rad is going and I turn on my headlights on high, my gauge jumps to the draining side of things  

[billschroeder5842]

@Elacruze...

You might be right..I do a lot of short trips. Most are 3-4 miles at a crack and that might not be enough. Monday I took it to work (12 miles) that included some 70 mph stretches. The needele looked normal after that.

[Nacho-RT74]

thats because not enough juice coming from alt at iddle... then the car demand being suplied by the batt.

when reving up, more juice coming from alt able to feed the car and CHARGE BACK what the bat lost on regular operation with accs and low rpms

as stated, pretty much F***ing normal.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,33574.0.html

the time the needle keeps on charging side goes in relation with how much reserve/cranking power of batt and the alt hability to charge it back to normal chemical balance.

Bigger reserve on batt, and more power lost, will keep the amm needle more time on charge side as far the alt is not enough to "fill it" back faster, speciually on stock old alts