Many moons ago I installed a Auto Meter Mini gauge trio. Temp, oil pressure, voltmeter. Rather spiffy install if I do say so myself. Anyway, I noticed sub par charging. In the 12'* at idle and maybe 13.5 at speed. Strange thing was, I would get 14v when it was cold. I suspected the alternator was crapping out. With a 2k road trip looming, I needed to fix it. So, Saturday I warm everything up and load the alternator down so I could take it to Advance and get a warranty replacement. (Needed to be not working to get a replacement.) AC, wipers, blower, headlights on showed a dismal 12.3 at idle, maybe 12.9-13 at high rpm, measured at the battery. Ok, alternator is crapping out. Just for kicks I measured at the alternator, 14.7-14.8 at idle. WTF? My battery cables were clean and tight but they were 20 years old! I quickly fabricated a 8g. wire and piggy backed it along the OEM cable off the alternator to the battery. Boom, 13.7-14 at idle with load. 14+ at higher RPM. Moral to the story, just cause the cables look good and are clean doesn't mean that they are any good. I will be replacing all three this weekend with new ones. Could be why my starter drags *** when it get hot.

I have experienced this before as well on older rides. It seems fresh copper often does improve flow.
I upgraded to a high output custom alt, ran fresh larger cables and a mega power AGM battery.

It is good piece of mind knowing your battery is charging properly, and supplying enough clean juice though the car!

Nice cables Soft Ride! Yeah, likewise on getting new copper for better electron flow. Sometimes the stock stuff is just to get by 5, maybe 10 years if you live in a dry environment. Good catch 57lxi!