Dale, all are based on fact. Fist, the battery will discharge if you do not disconnect the #1 terminal from 12 volts when the motor is off. To do this you connect to the accessory terminal on the key, or the + terminal of the coil, or a toggle switch. Anyway to stop the flow of voltage backward from the battery thru the alternator to ground. Second, you want the alternator to charge properly. You could use a 12 volt excitation, but engine speed usually is about 2000 RPM to get the alternator to "kick in". A small resistor or light bulb or resistance wire in the circuit will cut the voltage to the excitation portion of the alternator and make it charge "better" in my opinion. I have installed a few delcos on tractors and use a 10 ohm -10 watt resistor from radio shack and the alternator will charge with the standard pulley at 500 RPM engine speed. I think this has a lot to do with it, others may argue. Car companies use a light bulb on the dash or a resistance wire in the harness to accomplish this. I got the 10 ohm resistor idea from a DELCO service test manual 20 years ago for testing on the bench. Works every time. reisitor is $1.