Alternator charging problem

[00stranger]

2000 ranger, 3.0L flex fuel, 4x4

With my old alternator I was only getting 11.7 volts at the battery terminals when the truck is running, 12.6V when truck isn't running. After telling a few people how the electrical was shutting down before I got home (stereo turned off, RPM gauge stopped working, etc), everybody said its the alternator. I changed the alternator and cleaned the battery posts, ground connection beside battery and + cable at alternator. I also recharged the battery.

Started it up and the red battery warning light is still on. I'm still getting 11.7V when the trucks running and it drops even lower when I turn on my heat, radio etc. Increasing RPM doesn't change the voltage.

I tried to find the other ground connections to clean them but I can't see where they are. The larger battery negative goes behind the steering rack and I can't see where it goes from there. I'm not sure where the motor grounding wire is.

Can it be anything else I'm not thinking of? Any suggestions? I don't think it's the battery or battery connections cuz the truck still starts fine. I have a volt/ohm meter if I need to do any other checks

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Check for voltage at the plug at the alternator....no voltage = no charging

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[00stranger]

Check for voltage at the plug at the alternator....no voltage = no charging

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I just disconnected the 3 wire connector and stared the truck. I got a very small voltage (0.34V) from one of the "prongs?" and 0V from the other 2. I connected the negative lead from meter to the negative battery post. Should I be getting around 14v instead?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You should be seeing battery voltage on the one

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[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Check fuses

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[00stranger]

Check fuses

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Good call, the voltage regulator fuse is blown. Unfortunately I don't have any 30A mini fuses so I'll have to drive to the store tomorrow on battery power to get a new one. I just hope the new one doesn't blow because of a short somewhere.

Do u think the fuse would have blown because of a short in the old voltage regulator?

Thanks for the help. It's frustrating looking for a problem in the cold and not finding it