This should be a simple problem, but I seem to be complicating it. My troopy with chevy 350 and old style 3-wire alternator is not charging properly. The alt is from a boneyard and I had it benchtested at pepgirls and it was good. On the rig, my volt meter never approaches 14V, usually around 12v. I had the vehicle charge system tested at AutoZone today and the test machine said the voltage regulator was 12.33 v, maximum amps was 4.6, diode pattern was good. The buffoons at AZ had no idea what any of that meant. "Diode pattern is good, so your alternator is good." 
Seems like the voltage should be more like 13.7 and max amps (2000 rpm) closer to 60 (63 amp alt). The battery test said the battery was good, but the charge was low.
I was getting similar behavior from the bosch that came from oz, so I assumed it was bad and that is why I now have this other one. It is actually the 3rd one from the boneyard. Two of them look like they were recent replacements including the one I have now, which is clean and has Duralast stenciled on it. From these 4 alternators, only one has actually made the charge light come on. I rewired 2 of the 3 wires and verified the wiring to the charge light, which is the exciter wire. The GM alts are internally regulated and the original external regulator is nowhere to be found on the rig, so I don't see any problems there. I seem to recall driving from Cali that the volt meter would show 14v. There have been a couple blips with swapping these alternators when it has shown 14v immediately after startup, but typically around 12. When I drive it around, particularly with lights on, it is closer to 11v.
What am I missing? I haven't bought a new alternator yet, as I'm not entirely convinced that will fix it. Plus, I am looking at upgrade options including a serpentine setup or a newer v-belt alt with higher amps before I buy a new/reman unit.
gracias for any help
Seems like the voltage should be more like 13.7 and max amps (2000 rpm) closer to 60 (63 amp alt). The battery test said the battery was good, but the charge was low.I was getting similar behavior from the bosch that came from oz, so I assumed it was bad and that is why I now have this other one. It is actually the 3rd one from the boneyard. Two of them look like they were recent replacements including the one I have now, which is clean and has Duralast stenciled on it. From these 4 alternators, only one has actually made the charge light come on. I rewired 2 of the 3 wires and verified the wiring to the charge light, which is the exciter wire. The GM alts are internally regulated and the original external regulator is nowhere to be found on the rig, so I don't see any problems there. I seem to recall driving from Cali that the volt meter would show 14v. There have been a couple blips with swapping these alternators when it has shown 14v immediately after startup, but typically around 12. When I drive it around, particularly with lights on, it is closer to 11v.
What am I missing? I haven't bought a new alternator yet, as I'm not entirely convinced that will fix it. Plus, I am looking at upgrade options including a serpentine setup or a newer v-belt alt with higher amps before I buy a new/reman unit.
gracias for any help
