over charging alternator

i am an idiot wrote: Did you ground the center leg of the regulator?

I grounded the top hole. on the package it says that is also a ground.I can't hear you!

Found out my battery is good but is being over charged up to 840 amps instead of 700. So I dont think the Alt has a problem I think my battery is too small. They suggested a Second battery so the engine battery wouldn't be over charged past its capacity cause that could cause damage and what not. I cant afford a new huge engine battery so the Small Second will have to do. what you guys think?I can't hear you!

The Battery was tested. at Advanced auto parts cause its free there.I can't hear you!

I got the Alternator tested at Advanced auto parts and Auto zone and the battery and Alternator are 100%. I need to make sure you guys understand what the problem is. The alternator doesn't just randomly spike all the time. It charges at 14.1-14.4 volts all day long. When i turn the radio up the alternator is Perfect only dropping to about 12volts on the Low end notes. It is when the music stops playing from a loud volume when the spike occurs. So if its on a Bass note voltage drop at 12volts. if I pressed pause at that moment. then the voltage Spikes. Explain why a capacitor would not help to take that surge and keep the voltage regulated at a voltage lower at the amps. Or is there something i can buyy to keep the voltage below 14.4? Thanks Adam.I can't hear you!

anything?I can't hear you!

It sounds like a classic ground problem - ie, bad engine to chassis. Did you upgrade your ground wires? The extra engine to chassis strap needs to be rated to suit and be at least the size of the alternator output lead. (Apologies for stating the obvious, but I haven't noted any mention of grounding upgrades.)

oldspark wrote: It sounds like a classic ground problem - ie, bad engine to chassis. Did you upgrade your ground wires? The extra engine to chassis strap needs to be rated to suit and be at least the size of the alternator output lead. (Apologies for stating the obvious, but I haven't noted any mention of grounding upgrades.)

Yeah the Grounds have all been upgraded to 0 Gauge wire by doing the BIG 3. the Chassis is the Same as the Firewall right?I can't hear you!

Yeah - chassis equals car metal (assuming the metal is all grounded to the battery -ve etc). Well if you have solid grounds from alternator to engine to chassis to battery -ve..... And a solid connection from your alternator's (regulator's) sense wire to battery +ve (without any voltage drops caused by other loads), then it should be charging ok. It sounds like you need the full system checked out. Maybe the regulator is reacting to injected AC etc, or it's a poor regulator. Or the alternator is underdamped etc. (And I assume you only have the one alternator!) BTW - a battery acts like a huge capacitor itself so additional capacitors are unlikely to prevent any spikes.

I think I might need to Hook my grounds to my battery Better. Im gonna try that before sending the Alternator back.I can't hear you!