Charging system

[LUCKY13]

My alternator and voltage regulator and battery are all new on my 65. The charging system works well except at 750 rpm idle with headlights on, then the needle on my guage moves slightly to the discharge side. As soon as the rpms rise above 1000, the needle moves back to the center or slightly to the right of center. I haven't measured the voltage to the battery at idle. My battery stays charged. Is this something I shouldn't worry about? Could it be the voltage regulator, even though it's new?

 

[Tom Bryant]

I don't think so but I'd take a voltage reading just to be sure. If I remember correctly even though the guage is marked like an ammeter it is actually a volt meter and reads voltage instead of charge/discharge. It seems like John had something to say about this a while back.

Tom

 

[JohnZ]

Sounds perfectly normal to me - alternators don't produce much current at idle rpm, but output rises rapidly above 1000-1200 rpm.