intermittant heavy load on Alternator?

[Kneale Brownson]

How old is the alternator?

Feelstranger <feelstranger at hotmail.com> wrote:   Driving it since then, I have experienced many incidents of low voltage on the voltmeter that typically go away eventually, or are gone at next start.

Recently, I realized that this intermittent low charge (voltmeter indicates as low as 12 V while running, sometimes more) was accompanied by occasional belt squeals which got me thinking that the low charge was actually a large load on the alt. 

Turning off lights, radio, seat heaters, etc, only helps a 
little.
Could I have a major short that is doing this?
So my plan (when I get the opportunity) is to start pulling fuses when the charge is low to see If I can isolate the problem circuit.

I'm open to other ideas, or BTDT.