Dash lights will not turn off!! 72 dart

RobertC99 said
Got a weird 1, been having lots of issues with oriellys alternators been through 4 because they are junk the last 1 jumped up to 18.2 volts at 1 point on my voltage gauge and maxed out the alternator gauge on the dash,

Yes we can see the damage. Any time the 'alternator gage' is maxed damage will occur. The only unknown is how much damage and how soon. The gage is showing current. Current is electrons moving. The gage indicates how many electrons moving through it - litterally around the base of the needle causing a magnetic field that moves the needle. Needle fully at C = Battery charging 40 amps (way too much). Needle fully at D = battery discharging 40 amps, also way too much.

RobertC99 said
I tried the headlight switch because thats what caused them to turn off before playing with the dial but I reached in the dash and un plugged the switch and they stayed on, ive looked over the basics so far making sure i got no melted wires or pinched together wires and so far have not seen anything, have not pulled the instrument cluster it's self out yet, I have a car show tommorow so I just disconnected the battery cable for tonight, included a pic of the back of the instrument panel I can access without pulling it, since I haven't got to that yet and the voltage i saw on my voltage gauge, i also replaced the voltage regulator with the alternator and everything has been fine since then other then the dash lights problem

Please do not drive the car with the alternator uncontrolled. Alternator producing power around 18 Volt will burn things up, and cook the battery.
You've probably noticed that items provided electricity at higher voltage, will draw more power.
For example, turning on the headlights with the engine off, the lights are dim. This is because they are only getting battery power at 12.5 Volts. When the engine is running, they are getting power from the alternator - approximately 14.5 volts. The bulb draws more current when the voltage is higher.
When voltage is high enough, the bulb will draw so much current it burns out right away.
The battery is similar,except it will cook the acid.

More about battery charging here
https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/charging-battery-with-alternator-warning.424783/