Excessive Ripple = definitely Bad Alternator?

[kawasaga]

I’m a technical / engineering scientific kind of person that engineers automation controls–computer science major. I used to work on heavy trucks for a living. I look at it from this perspective: The vehicle is the best place to test the alternator–the environment is perfect. A bench test is useful for an unknown alternator or repaired etc. I believe it is foolish to remove an alternator to bench test it as it is a less conclusive test than just leaving it in the car. To a person that has little knowledge of how it works, they might feel accomplished by taking it out and giving to an “expert” but that is really an ill-informed method of repair. But, if time permits and that person enjoys the the greasy cut knuckles, then removing it serves a greater purpose of entertainment. I don’t get much enjoyment out tinkering