LUVTruck.com

Our 1980 Chevy Luv is ready to make legal and get on the road, the charging system was charging at 15v a month ago. I checked it a couple days ago and now is is charging near 19v with the battery connected and around 17.7 with just the alternator charging it. It is eating batteries. I changed out the voltage regulator and it did nothing. I also unplugged the cylindrical capacitor that is hooked up to the voltage regulator and nothing changed. What could be causing this. Could I upgrade to a newer Chevy alternator with voltage regulator built in?

My guess is the alternator is full fielding. If this were my truck I would check each wire at the voltage regulator with a meter to make sure they are hooked up correct at both ends, if they are I would pull the alternator and have it tested. Like I said m guess is the alternator is shorted to full fielding.

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That is my guess also. Sounds like maybe the small plug at the alternator wired backwards. White/green is the field wire and white/black is alternator voltage supply to the regulator. Maybe crossed?
Look closely at the alternator, should be marked F for field and E for regulator supply.

On edit: Looks like white/black for field (F) and white/green is (N) terminal.