I am having trouble with my alternator (see my posts in other related fields).

After much soul searching (haha!) I think I may know why my system won't charge even though I have a fresh battery and a new alternator:

I think I may have hooked it up wrong when I replaced the alternator. When I hooked up the two cables with "eye hook" type end connectors to the two posts on the back of the alternator I think I may have gotten them reversed!

This would explain why current flows "through" the alternator but doesn't tell the voltage regulator to start charging. The voltage regulator is not getting the proper signal because I might have the ground wire and "hot" wires mixed up. Is this possible?

Like Dad said, the big red wire goes on the battery or +B terminal and the other field wire goes onthe small terminal. But I would ponder the possibility of some bad wiring. I have seen posts about this before. It seems that some of the wiring for the charging system deteriorates in older vehicles. Check the connections from the alternator back. This might involve some time and head banging on the steering wheel. You might also want to remove, check and clean or replace the fuses and the little holders they go in.. Not sure if this has any bearing on the charging system but it never hurts to keep them in good shape. I know mine can give problems from time to time.

No offense, but it's pretty intuitive how the wires hook up so it would be hard to do it wrong. Unless someone has messed with the connectors, the smaller Red wire's connector shouldn't fit on the B+ (big) terminal, and the thick Red wire's terminal would be a very sloppy fit on the smaller post.

So it's just big wire to big post on the alternator, etc. Check and see. I don't think you'd hurt anything by getting them connected wrong, but it sure won't charge the battery.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

Thanks for the reply.
Actually, I think someone did mess with the connectors. I will try to switch them around and see what happens.
Wonder what else could cause the system to bypass the alternator?