Charging problems........

[Glennster]

 I've ruined 3 batteries, I'm not sure if it's because the alternator was bad or if I wired something wrong that would not allow the alternator to do it's job. How can I check to make sure my wiring is right?

I have a blue and a green wire coming off the alternator, can these be reverse causing a problem???


Here's a few more pictures, I need to make sure my wiring is CORRECT. If I need to show more pictures, please tell me what I need to show.

[Changin Gears]

The blue and green field wires can go either way on the alternator.  When you say you ruined 3 batteries, did they get overcharged?

[Strawdawg]

So what voltage do you have coming out of the alternator?

[72cudamaan]

I may be wrong but isn't that second pic showing a ballast resistor? I didn't see any volt regulator

[drewcrane]

Have you check the put put of the alternator? 3 batteries you should be looking at that , and everything looks very clean and nice,and perhaps the volt reg. too have them checked

[Glennster]

 I don't know how to check these things, I was going to take it to the local auto parts store to have the thing checked. Is it easy to check? what do I need to do it myself?

 Could a bad voltage regulator over charge the battery?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I don't know how to check these things, I was going to take it to the local auto parts store to have the thing checked. Is it easy to check? what do I need to do it myself?

 Could a bad voltage regulator over charge the battery?

Absolutely, it regulates the voltage for the entire car! It gets a voltage signal from a hot wire and varies the resistance of the ground circuit to the alternator. Since the alternator always has full source voltage, if the voltage regulator gives "too much" ground to the alternator, it'll kick out too much amperage. 

In my opinion, if you haven't replaced this stuff yet, just get it all. Start relay, ballast resistor, voltage regulator, carry a spare ignition ecu, etc, etc.

However, do not overlook the fact that you can get crappy electronics. Pay the more money for a 'hopefully' good napa or carquest part. Stay away from "lifetime warranty", you'll probably use that warranty more than you'd care to!

[solarguy]

Didn't you just detail your engine bay?  Fresh paint doesn't allow for good grounds and that voltage reg body needs a good ground. 

[Chryco Psycho]

the blue wire at the VR & the Alt is the same circuit & is 12v feed , the green wire from the alt grounds through the VR & controls the charging rate , the VR needs a good ground & if it is internally shorted will cause the Alt to go to full charge at 15V , the alt should normally be putting out 13.5 v

[GoodysGotaCuda]

the blue wire at the VR & the Alt is the same circuit & is 12v feed , the green wire from the alt grounds through the VR & controls the charging rate , the VR needs a good ground & if it is internally shorted will cause the Alt to go to full charge at 15V , the alt should normally be putting out 13.5 v

I hate 18v when mine went to overcharge. My diehard battery grenaded because I was on the highway and didn't notice for awhile 

[Glennster]

 Thanks for the help, it was my voltage regulator. It seems to be grounded OK, but I'll knock a little paint off behind it to insure a better ground.

 This also looks to be the solution to another problem that I've been chasing. The car would fall on it's face at around 5000 - 5500 rpms. We thought it might be fuel pressure, so I hooked up a fuel pressure gauge and sure as heck, the pressure was falling off at high rpm. Got a new fuel pump, still the same problem. We thought it was a restricted fuel feed, so I put a 5 gallon gas can in my rear seat with a 3/8'' gas hose in it. Now I know there's no restriction! But still the same problem, then on the test drive my battery puked again. That was with a 2 hour old battery and a new alternator. If I knew as much about this stuff as I should, I'd have figured this out much earlier..........  It seems like the guys at the parts store might have caught this when they tested for a bad battery last week. My ignorance sure hurt me on this one.......

THANKS for all the input Gentlemen.