Is there an official test procedure? My battery has gone flat a couple of times recently, and the store has refused to replace it under warrantee claiming that my alternator is not charging properly.

Thanks in advance

 

The simple 'in car' test is to verify that battery voltage is in the 12.3v to 12.6v range: then with the engine running, the alternator should increase that to ~ 14v.
The only true alternator test I know of is to remove the unit and have it placed under a load test: the alternator is spun with an ~ 10hp electric motor and hooked to a huge battery - it must then demonstrate its rated amperage (~100 amps) at the ~14v.

 

Make sure the field exciter wire is intact and properly terminated through the lamp and resistor behind the pod.