Ammeter Question

Please excuse me if this is off topic as I have a Lotus, but I have a question about my alternator/ammeter. I just had the alternator rebuilt as my car was starting to run off the battery. The VR was changed as well. As I rev into the upper band my ammeter is reading +35 Amps! It NEVER did that; would always be at +5 or so. At idle it does read +5. So, is my battery shot and needs to be charged, or is my VR no good and I'm cooking the battery?

So far all anyone says is "check it out" but I need the car tonight and can't. I don't want to blow the thing up however!

Thanks!

Ken

 

I know it's dangerous to make assumptions, but my battery is only 2 years old, and I didn't drive on the battery for more than 1-2 miles if that. The fault was intermittant. I have driven less than a mile since the R&R so if the battery IS in need of a charge I haven't gone far enough obviously. Frankly, I was afraid of cooking it which is why I'm asking.

So my question is: If I put some miles on it and see if the needle returns to it's normal neutral range am I risking anything by doing this? I'll do laps around the block...

Thanks!!
Ken

 

Another comment I just got: "Your field coil is shorting to the ground; you will fry your battery!" I think I better take it all apart again!

Ken

 

Good idea. I need to buy a voltmeter....I'm embarrassed to say I don't have one! I do think I need to take it apart though....just a hunch which is a bad way to fix cars!

Ken