Hello,
I have just had my alternator/voltage regulator system rebuilt and am hooking it back up. the previous mechanic had installed a newer system that keep burning out. I was told to make sure the alternator is grounded but only see 2 wires (green and black) in the car. the regulator is grounded.
there seems to be a small screw that says grnd next to it but no wires in the existing system that would relate to this. should i be attaching a wire to the block or mounts and attaching it to the alternator somehow or is it somehow grounded by the regulator?

_________________
64 valiant 200 convertible
64 falcon futura convertible

In theory alternator is grounded via its bracketry. It may or may not serve as a competent ground due to the varied paths of electron flow through various mechanical connections to block and block to negative battery post. Same can be said for electronic spark controller, and voltage regulator where their ground path depends on body welds, and bolts to flow electrons back to battery. Voltage regulator and spark controller have to have a good ground or they can fail.

Just to equalize the potential on negative side of charging and ignition circuit to eliminate any voltage drop on the ground side one can install a grounding loop. Run a #12 gage wire using crimped eyes starting at alternator’s “GRNDâ€￾ hole loop over to one of spark controller’s attachment screws if equipped, on to one of voltage regulator’s attachment bolts, and back to battery negative post.

Next step would be to have voltage regulator read true charging voltage bypassing all the various poor connections inherent in ignition & charging circuit as it passes in and out of bulkhead connector. Using ignition blue wire that would normally attach ignition side of voltage regulator as a relay trigger, a remote voltage sensing point that has true harness charge voltage at battery with no voltage drop can be used to feed that voltage reading to regulator.

I have retro fit bulkhead connector with new all brass connectors, and under dash connection to trying to eliminate all voltage drop in ignition circuit of Dart; it was somewhat successful but still drop was present. Now I remote read voltage at threaded post on starter relay via a relay system. When engine is off relay is open disallowing battery voltage to regulator, when ignition is in run, relay is triggered closing path to battery and regulator. Now charge voltage is always normal.

Start by adding a ground loop to your system, then see how charge voltage looks. If still out of normal range consider adding a relay activated remote voltage reading point.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC