Well, it looks like my ignorance has caused some issues and possible mis-information and at the very least just bad testing.
I was reading this site this morning:
Using an Alternator in Renewable Energy Projects
There is a section on how to hook up an alternator and it is not the same procedure I used. I simply connected the field wire to the battery and ran it. That means the field is on FULL strength. Also, you're supposed to put some sort of resistor (and a switch) in that line which also wasn't done. This also increases the field strength, to what point I don't know.
Also, I did not hook up the regulator wire to the battery, so the regulator could not regulate the power to the field coil again letting it just go full blast.
SO, what does this all mean? Well, it means I need to retest with things properly hooked up. My one question is, my connector has 3 wires. So, I effectively have 5 connections to make:
1) ground (case) to battery -
2) positive post to battery +
3) field to battery +
4) regulator to battery +
5) ???
Here is a diagram off the linked site, but it only shows four connections. Any ideas on what the 5th does? A ground for the regulator perhaps, or just something car related (warning light or something)?
