School me on charging

[mccoymail]

Folks

Please school me a little on our charging system. My 70 charger idles kinda choppy, but at idle, my amp gauge floats right around zero. At higher idle it buries out past +40. I don't want to fry anything.
Thoughts?

 

[66Satellite47]

Use a voltmeter to check the voltage in that high idle. Shouldn't be more than 14.5 to 15 volts. The high ammeter reading could be from a bad voltage regulator or bad battery. I presume that has the '70 electronic voltage regulator, be sure the regulator case has a really good ground , although the poor ground will normally give you little or no output from the alternator. The mounting screw through the firewall may not be good enough. Chased that for almost a year and the dealers never figured it out. A dying battery will give you that high ammeter demand reading.

 

[mccoymail]

Thanks. I'm done today but I will start down that path Sunday. I'm sure I'll let you know.
I should add that yes, mopar electronic ignition with orange box. As well as new battery and alt.

 

[mccoymail]

What happens if the alt field wires are reversed?

 

[Pops1967GTX]

Also, ever give a wife or a girlfriend unlimited charging...

 

[Pops1967GTX]

http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/269/Cover.htm

 

[Pops1967GTX]

http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/256/cover.htm

 

[bm02tj]

with the car off does it show discharge when you turn lights and fans etc on
If not you have stuff wired to wrong side of ammeter

 

[Yatzee]

Folks

Please school me a little on our charging system. My 70 charger idles kinda choppy, but at idle, my amp gauge floats right around zero. At higher idle it buries out past +40. I don't want to fry anything.
Thoughts?

No real amp draw at idle, lots of amp draw at higher rpm's. Good sign that your running on the battery. What the hell does it do at 2000 rpm's? And most importantly whats drawing all those amps. Perhaps your alternator's gone south or your voltage regulator.