I'm hoping there are some charging system experts out there. I have a continuing discharge of my battery overnight. I have come to believe the voltage regulator is energing the alternater fields all the time. I don't think this is right, but don't really know the set up that well.

My regulator has 1-4 terminals. 1-field (blue) to the f post on the alt, hot all the time. Terminal 2- white to the r terminal on the alt. Terminal 3- orange, fusible link to the bat. Terminal 4- brown to the console gauge I would guess ( unsure as I have no diagram for a console gauge car) hot all the time(??should it be?).

The alternator is warm after the car sits for a while and the bat is discharged.
Disconnnect the r-f plug from the alt and the bat will not dischage. My first thought was a defective, even though new, regulator. I purchased a second regulator of a differant brand, from a differant retailer and got the same result.

I hope some brilliant TC'er will have a clue for me.


THX

LDR

You should check Car Craft a few months back, they did a "leak down" test of sorts for electrical stuff on a first gen camaro. They gave some really good tips with a simple multi-meter.

hope this helps,

~Eric

Give a read of the Tech bulletins on www.madelectrical.com excellent reading for everyone.

I've had this poblem with my internally regulated 100AMP power master,

Disconnect your alternator exciter wire, leave 'er over night, she wont discharge. You may want to see if your exicter is properly hooked up to the output post of your alt, not 100% sure how it'd work with an external regulator, but for me, that was it.

what I think happens is that if the exiciter wire (again, I am speaking in a 3 wire internally regulated alt frame of mind ) does not go cold, so inherenetly the alternator stator maintains a small charge, which over a long period of time (1 -8 hours) drains your batt, If i were you though, I may consider the MAD electrical solution, when i've got the $ that is DEFINATELY what I am doing, Mark over there has his shyte togeather

You may want to check the alternator windings for a path to ground. You've explained the reg is hooked up correctly. Brown wire does go to the gauge.

Disconnect the battery. Remove the two-wire plug at alt rear. Measure across the two teminals for some continuity. Measure each terminal to alt case and should not have continuity to ground, I wouldn't think.

The 1973 Chilton's I have here at work shows for the yrs 67, 68, 70, the blue wire being the right hand wire of the plug when viewing from the rear. Only 1969 schematic shows blue wire in the left slot. Could be a mistake in the book.