Voltage Regulator
Can a bad voltage regulator cause the alt gauge to be buried..?
Resting voltage on my battery is 12.3v.
I guess I'll keep searching out the issue.
Did you get an to an answer to your issue?
You didn't say which way it is indicating so I'll offer you this.
The ammeter is calibrated to show approximately 40 amps to 40 amps. Anytime it shows more than 30 amps discharge or charge that is an indication that something is seriously wrong. Soon damage will start to occur in the wiring. If its over 40 amps then I would shut down immediately and if the gage is still showing 40 amps, then disconnect the cables ASAP. (discharging with the engine shut down is a bad short).
IIRC you are working on 70 or 72 Demon. It would have come with a isolated field voltage regulator and alternator. That regulator controls the field by switching the ground connection of the rotor's wiring. If the wire from the alternator field terminal to the regulator's control terminal is grounded, then the rotor's winding will be powered all the time. Voltage will then follow rpm. (RPM goes up, voltage goes up) Anything that draws current will draw more current, that includes a battery recharging. The ammeter will reflect that.
Resting voltage on your battery is a bit low. I would try charging it on a battery charger.
Voltage readings tell us energy levels between the two points being measured.
Ammeters show the amount electrons flowing through a location in circuit. An easy way to remember is to associate the word current for electricity to current for a flowing river.
https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopa...-alternators-1960-1976.475691/post-1973173846