Charging light not comming on???

[Dark Lizerd]

Reworking my '93 to get it back on the road, but
If I recall correctly, my charging light never turned on...
I removed the dash to check the light, it is good...
Checked the wires from the alt to the dash and the battery wire, both are good...
But when I looked at the traces on the back of the dash, I am confused on how the light would be turned on...
(electronics background for me, and my dad's a mechanic...)
I have a Hays or Chilton book for the car...
from it's wiring diagram, there is battery on one side of the light, and the alternator on the other side...
This would light the light if there is a problem...
BUT, from what I can tell from the dash board traces, the battery and the alt are on the same side...
SO, if anything, the light will always be on, or always be off...

Other than that, every thing works...

[tooldude]

Did you actually light up the bulb or use another bulb? I've seen bulbs that look good with the filament intact not light up - and then the socket or wires plugging into the assembly may not be making good connection. Since the other bulbs light up, the foil grid could have a break in it. The BK/R wire from the cluster to the alternator could not have continuity.

[Dark Lizerd]

Replaced the light with new, swapped lights, ohmed the traces...
Tested the wires to the alt and battery...

[tooldude]

Looking at this circuit again, there is a diode in series with the charge light that could be open, breaking continuity of the circuit. It seems like you could ground the BK/R wire to the alternator and force the light on if that diode is good. However, I don't know if any significant resistance is added to the circuit in the voltage regulator. If the lamp lights then, I would think the V regulator is causing the problem since it turns off the light when the alternator is charging.

[Dark Lizerd]

Seen the diode, but I don't recall if it acted correctly or not...
(IE: like a diode)
It is back together now, so unless there is any problems, I'm not gona worry about it...
Thanks...