DeSoto

[cheesy]

Well, that was a face palm.

I got hold of a friend in the UK who has forgotten more about automotive DC than I'll ever know and asked him about the amp gauge always showing a discharge while my clamp on DC meter shows life is good.

First question he asks me; "What make and model alternator?"

Me-"Delco 10 si converted to 6v positive ground."

Jack-"One wire or three?"

Me-"One."

Jack-"Connected just to the battery?"

Me-"Yeah."

Jack-"There's your answer."

Me-"Huh?"

Jack-"There is no physical connection between the ammeter and the alternator, therefore the ammeter will never see a charge. It still shows a discharge because everything else in the system runs through the ammeter. Put in an idiot light or voltmeter and ignore the ammeter."

Me-"Crap."

So, there was never anything wrong with the alternator and I was a doofus.