Charging issue

Hello all...1971buick gs stage 1 convertible....new pertronix dist,battery,voltage reg,and rebuilt orig alternator...... gen light is brightly lit up all the time on dash when key is on.not on with ignition off. While engine is running,pulled pos cable off and it dies....had pulled reg and alt off and had them checked again... they work fine per alternator shop. Reinstalled and no change,have power thru white wire at alt with key off thru blu with key on.have power at regulator also. Someone else freshly installed distributor,reg,battery rebuilt alt.friend is asking me to fix because installer can’t figure it out....any help greatly appreciated ! The grounds I’ve checked were clean and tight....
 
Tim,

1st. off you NEVER remove the battery cable from a car when it has an alternator. It normally kills the diodes immediately. The cable removal is when vehicles were equipped with generators as a test to see IF the generator system was working.
EVERYBODY is having problems with the voltage regulators taday. Don't matter if they are A/C Delco or most any mechanical regulators. I've had the best luck with the cheapy electronic regulators.
Don't know why this is but is to be expected with the crap that's available today.

Tom T.
 
The very first thing you should have done is simply put a voltmeter across the battery with the engine running. Should read 13.9-14.5 volts. If it doesn't, the alternator is not charging. I second Tom, the mechanical regulators are problematic. I just convert over to the internally regulated 10 or 12SI alternator. Simple wiring and pigtail change.
 
I second that. On my 68 wildcat, the battery would discharge slowly when parked. Traced it to a faulty regulator. Unplug the
regulator, no more drain. Went with a 90 amp alt with a built in reg. Been great ever since.
 
Thanks all, yes I understand the regulator thing and pulling cable off.upon tracing wiring they hooked up new distributor to resistor wires.i believe new pertronix distributors need full 12volts when rolling over correct? It’s only getting 9 ish when rolling over and 11.74 in on position..
 
Thanks all, yes I understand the regulator thing and pulling cable off.upon tracing wiring they hooked up new distributor to resistor wires.i believe new pertronix distributors need full 12volts when rolling over correct? It’s only getting 9 ish when rolling over and 11.74 in on position..

The starter motor load will drag battery voltage down, so that is normal to see 9-10 volts while cranking. A fully charged battery will be 12.6 volts. Doesn't sound like a resistor wire to me.
 
Was told coil needs 12 volt all the time for distributor.... run and start....true?


No, GM HEI and Pertronix need BATTERY VOLTAGE. The starter draws a lot of current during cranking. It will drag the voltage down during cranking. Once the engine starts, the voltage recovers and the battery is charged at 14 volts plus if your alternator and regulator are functioning properly.
 
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