Well, Of course I can never be sure, but I think I may have gotten a bad unit right off the shelf. I had the replacement bench tested(was in the car for about a week) and it came up witha bad diode) I'll never really know if it was bad off the shelf or something about my wiring ate it up, the new one is doing well charging at 13.5 after approx 2k miles.
I continue to have a crazy tach needle with the headlights on, testimony to a bad dash ground I have read. Only thing that may be related as far as I can tell. thanks.

__________________
1972 220d Blew motor twice! ouch
1985 300TDT 169k
Many nissan pickups 86-89 200k plus
A vast portfolio of oldies
1949 chevy 1/2 ton
1947 international kb-3
1955 Cadillac coupe de ville
many others
1977 BMW R 100/7
1987 BMW K100RS
1985 Honda XR350
others