[ischmitz]

If there is no charging from the alternator there are a couple of culprits:

- The charging light indicates that the excitation coil is powered from the battery during startup. This is so the alternator can start to produce electricity. If the bulb doesn't light up when you turn the ignition to ON something is wrong there. An open bulb or the wiring from the battery to the bulb and further to the alternator is interrupted. Easiest is a dead bulb. Question -> is the alternator light on with the ignition ON? If not check the bulb. Maybe an easy fix.

- Then the regulator receives the output from D+ of the alternator and meters it into Df (the excitation coil in the rotor) to ensure the output of the main coils remains around 13.4V at varying RPM. If the regular (integrated in the alternator) is shot or the diode pack for D+ there will be no charging-> need an alternator shop to test on the bench.

- The brushes could stick and prevent contact to the excitation coil in the rotor -> again no output at all and an alternator shop can check/replace the brushes.

As others said there is nothing wrong with driving on a battery only - just don't deep-cycle it, keep the head lights and other unnecessary stuff off and it'll take you several hours/charge

Good luck,
Ingo