Hi George :
Thanks for the response. Yes you are correct I've gone to the one wire set up. Sorry for calling it an amps gauge - old school! My tester is showing 11.9 coming in to the battery from the direct wire on the back of the alternator. The 3A relay looks original, if fact the ouside rusty metal of the relay case is spinning freely around the insides. I assume this was not how it's supposed to be. The alternator is new but of course it could be bad out of the box. I have not taken the alternator back off to have the starter shop test it.
Best/ Jack

Submitted by wcjssj@comcast.net on Fri, 07/23/2010 - 13:37

Hi Jack
I didnt read all the answers to your original question, so I may be repeating what someone else said.

The amp meter will read zero if your battery is charged. Of course it also reads zero if the alternator is not working. Thats why newer cars use a volt meter; amp meters are useful only for generators.

Your battery should read about 12,5 volts when the car is not running. It should read about 14.5 volts with the car running and the alternator running .

I would use an 8 gauge wire out of the alternator B+. That alternator is capable of 60 or more amps. depending on the year it was made.

Good luck

Curt

Submitted by SC38-21185J on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 08:38

Shouldn't the alternator be putting out about 1.75 volts, and can't you measure this on the alternator itself?

Patrick