Need alternator advice from SBC V8 guys, Update: I'm kindofanidiot Options

[aircooledboy]

In the final stages of re-assembly after flares & paint. I wired up the alt exactly the way it was when I took it out, and has always been, but I'm not showing any voltage change at the output pole whether the car is running or not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I'm running the Renegade serpentine set up with AC on a 350.

I replaced the alt while I had the engine out with a higher amp unit because I've had charging "issues" with the car literally since I got it, (battery would slowly run down over time, and I've have to charge it), so I thought this might fix that. I've had the new one out and bench tested, and it's putting out 13.8v on the test stand. I'm using an alt for a 93 Buick, and historically it's only had the heavy wire from the output to the start, which then goes to the batt, and the lead on the plug which lights the idiot on the dash. When I start the car now, the idiot light goes out, but I'm only showing like 11.8-ish volts at the pole, and that doesn't change whether car on or not. Guy who built alt for me says as far as he knows, you must have 12v to the "red wire on the plug", which was never connected to anything before. After jumping that to 12v, no change. 11.7-ish volts, and car dies if I disconnect batt.

Electrical is always my weak suit. Any ideas? HEEELLLP ME. . . . (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slits.gif)

[bulitt]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

You need to pull all the fuses.
Put a voltmeter between the red batt cable and the pos battery pole.
The voltage should read zero.
Then put one fuse in at a time and see if voltage is flowing for each circuit.
If you have a circuit with voltage running through it then figure out why.
Possibly a short, possibly the clock,radio, amplifier. Something maybe wired on continuously. Possibly the power to the distributor.
If all circuits check out, then it maybe a bad diode in the alternator.
How old is your battery? Have you load tested it?
Also, Some alternators have to be "excited" before they will put out voltage.
Hence the idiot light, or a resistor somewhere.
IF your idiot light is an LED it wont do the job.

[dwillouby]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

You need to pull all the fuses.
Put a voltmeter between the red batt cable and the pos battery pole.
The voltage should read zero.
Then put one fuse in at a time and see if voltage is flowing for each circuit.
If you have a circuit with voltage running through it then figure out why.
Possibly a short, possibly the clock,radio, amplifier. Something maybe wired on continuously. Possibly the power to the distributor.
If all circuits check out, then it maybe a bad diode in the alternator.
How old is your battery? Have you load tested it?
Also, Some alternators have to be "excited" before they will put out voltage.
Hence the idiot light, or a resistor somewhere.
IF your idiot light is an LED it wont do the job.

Just my 2 cents voltage doesnt flow current does. Voltage is pressure and current is flow. Are you telling him to use an ammeter in series with the red wire and pos post?