Quote Originally Posted by joshk5145
i would think 12.2 would be normal for an idling engine.
lolol. No.

There is a ground for the signal (plug) wire that goes into the ALT. The housing of the ALT is the ground. So when you bolt it up it grounds itself out. A good ALT will charge at 14.2v constantly. May drop down if all lights are on and stereo is blasted, etc....

Dont buy those cheap ass ALT, they go bad so easily.

-Ant.