Voltage Regulator - Is this normal?

[truckster]

My battery went dead, and when I hook up the jumper cables I noticed the voltage regulator clicks. It seems to me that if that's the sound of a solenoid closing, the voltage regulator would be drawing battery power all of the time.

So how do I test the voltage regulator? I haven't had to test one in many years.

If it's a bad regulator, I'll probably just install the internal regulator alternator I have in my garage.

Thanks