old alternators

[Gottolovem]

Ok I have a 1967 mail van with a 225 slant six engine.
Today I had to replace the alternator because the old one was shot it's externally regulated.
My question is do older alternator's charge at a lower voltage? I'm getting about 12.2 at idle and about 12.45 at 3000 rpm that seems wrong?
I'm used to seeing a car charging at around 12.65+at idol and up above 13+ @3000 rpm even higher number's sometimes

[irowiki]

The regulator may be bad too.

[Gottolovem]

Nope forgot to add that brand new

[marlinh]

Was the battery fully charged before you did your charge test? 12.2 is too low in my books, faulty parts. All battery connections clean and tight?

[Gottolovem]

The battery was not at full had a bad alt
50 year old mail van
large deep cycle battery that needs a good smack on the terminals once in awhile before she start's
So I would say the connections are not all that they could be

[irowiki]

The "brand new" regulator which has probably been sitting on the shelf for a few decades could be bad too!

[Petros]

clean your terminals and cable connections at both ends and try again, you might double check the belt tension too. The battery will not charge at 12.2 volts. a fully charged battery should show 13.2 volts (2.2 volts per cell x 6 cells), if it does not get above 13. 3 it will not fully charge. Likely the alternator is bad, usually the older voltage regulators either work or not, never part way (it is a simple relay switch, the alter is either charging at 13.2+ volts, or it will only show battery voltage). If it was a remanufactured alternator, it is likely junk, take it out and have them bench test it at the store if you can not get it to work.

[Gottolovem]

Yea i suspect the new "reman" alternator is junk to!
The whole thing is such a simple circuit and the meter can't get over 13 reading directley off the alternator itself