[PeaceBeWithYou]

Set it to where it is charging the battery at 14.5V max. with the headlights and A/C on high, at idle. Battery voltage at rest should be in the 12.5-13.5 range, much more than that and it will boil the water out, and cook the plates. Less and it will make the starter drag and work harder.

If it's charging consistantly, don't mess with the field adjustment, that's a points wear adjustment. Usually it's time to replace it if it isn't adjusted soon enough to prevent the points from burning or plating out.

[djf]

Thank you! Your answer makes perfect sense.

My battery charger puts out 6 amps at about 14.3 volts, so I know where you’re coming from.

[HiramQuick]

Good advice.... there has been more maladjusted mechanical regulators than carter has pills. Field adjustment should only be touched with high erosion of points. I suspect that a new regulator is the best bet. Those springs get funny with age.... just like us old farts that remember them,

Max .... 13 v at the battery underload. How much new stereo add ons and such have been hung under the dash? CB Radios used to give auto electrics fits ... that and trying to get the noise out

[UnChained]

“Set it to where it is charging the battery at 14.5V max. with the headlights and A/C on high, at idle. Battery voltage at rest should be in the 12.5-13.5 range, much more than that and it will boil the water out, and cook the plates. Less and it will make the starter drag and work harder.”

Please don’t use this setting since the regulator cutoff adjustment limits the charging systems maximum voltage. The maximum mainly comes into play with little or no electrical load and the engine well above idle rpm.

Trying to get to 14.5 volts at full load during idle will make the voltage in the system very high at no load and high rpm.

14.5 volts is a good cutoff voltage for charging a cool battery but I like to back down from that a bit to help prevent thermal runaway.