Anyway, It should only charge when the battery reaches 11volts or so. Im not sure its suppose to start charging when its first started up. If the battery is not low, I don't think it should.
Ive seen alt's take various times to reach higher volts. When the lights are turned on, or there is another drain, like A/C. The voltage should start to climb. But if its taking 10 minutes for the voltage to reach 13/14, somethings bad. If its going only to 13 volts, its bad.
Again the alt should only kick on when voltage is low. Your car runs off the battery, untill a certain point. Then the alt recharges the battery for your car to run it down again, over and over.
Now I confused myself.
Maybe one of us understands this now