Charging indication

[Pete]

Howdy. I have a 74 roadrunner-charging needle on the dash shows a charge all the time. It used to not do this. When I put a meter on it, it shows 14.2 volts across the battery when running. It shows 14.9 volts between alternator and battery ground. Is that normal or is it an issue? I tried replacing the ballast resistor, no change.

Ideas?

 

[Russ69Runner]

Did you put a new alternator on it. Or move any wires recently. That is all I can ask.

 

[Pete]

Did you put a new alternator on it. Or move any wires recently. That is all I can ask.

Its got a new alternator. Its putting out fine. Could it be a bad wire?

 

[quikbird]

Sounds about right on charging

 

[Russ69Runner]

When you turn the ignition on dose it move. Or only when you start the car.

 

[69hemibeep]

Ballast has nothing to do with it. How many volts does the battery show with the engine and lights off.

 

[Pete]

I had a 73 Roadrunner years back. This 74 like the 73 seemed like the ammeter would go to the charge side when started, but after it ran for a while the needle would move to the middle. I just put a new 130 Amp alternator on it, so it looks like the alternator keeps up now. But on any of your vehicles, does the needle still lean to the charge side? Mine does, but the alternator is putting out 14.2 amps now.

 

[Pete]

Ballast has nothing to do with it. How many volts does the battery show with the engine and lights off.

It shows a little over 12 volts.

 

[Pete]

When you turn the ignition on dose it move. Or only when you start the car.

It drops then rises on cranking.