[tom hand]

Removing the battery cable is a test left over from when cars had generators....it is far from foolproof with an alternator. The field circuit in an alternator requires voltage for it to charge and a voltage spike could turn the alternator off. A much better "redneck" test is to hold a screwdriver to the metal cap on the back of the alternator while the engine is running...if it has a strong magnetic pull the alternator is charging