Alternator wiring? Help

[goofballracer]

I have a chevy 4.3 with a 3 prong regulator wiring i wired it up to where it charges but it is over charging the battery and making the battery boil. Does anyone know what i did wrong i have it wired through a dummy light but i think that might be where i went wrong? Any help would be much appreciated

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[joewire]

It sounds like you have somehow "full fielded" the alternator . make sure that the "light" wire on the alternator is going through a light and not just straight 12 volts.
do you know which alt model you have.

[goofballracer]

It sounds like you have somehow "full fielded" the alternator . make sure that the "light" wire on the alternator is going through a light and not just straight 12 volts.
do you know which alt model you have.

is it possible that the battery is bad? it an optima red top, but even when i have it on the charger at home it is boiling over and getting really hot?

[philofab]

Yes, it's possible it's bad. The alt should be making 13.5-14.5 volts, anything above 14.5 and your over charging the battery.

Try another battery or bring it to a battery retailer familiar with optimas and have it tested. They seem to be of lower quality than they once were known for.

[goofballracer]

Yes, it's possible it's bad. The alt should be making 13.5-14.5 volts, anything above 14.5 and your over charging the battery.

Try another battery or bring it to a battery retailer familiar with optimas and have it tested. They seem to be of lower quality than they once were known for.

its hard to tell the alt is charging at 14.5 but it seems to stay there. isnt the alternator supposed to turn on and off acording to the amount being used or is it on all the time when the motor is on? im gunna take the battery out to see what the shop says

[philofab]

The alt. adjusts the current output to the load but should stay on the whole time the car is running. You will see 16-20 volts when a regulator (damaged) is providing full output all the time. This will cook a battery quickly!

12.8v and lower... the alt isn't charging at all or very much.

12.9v - 14.5 - Acceptable range.

14.6 and up - overcharging.

[goofballracer]

bump! thanks for all the help the battery wont hold a charge so im thinking its bad and at the same time im worried the alternator may over charge a new one if i get it im not exactly sure what to do