Cant believe i did it - battery wiring wrong way round
Norfolkluegojnr - 26/2/13 at 09:18 PM
Right! One of those days you just shouldn't have bothered......
Bought a new battery for the mini, and attached the terminals. just as i'm attaching the earth, notice loads of smoke. Quickly disconnect and see
its coming from the alternator wiring - i've only gone and connected the terminals the wrong way round 
So what damage have I done? I presume the alternator is shot, what else could I have melted? No other obvious damage other than the wiring the the alt
which is nicely melted.
Wiring is standard apart from megajolt (please tell me thats not fried!) which is on a switched live.
Also - anyone know the correct wiring for a three pin alternator in a mini with the wing mounted solenoid? as the wires are melted, I can't
decifer colour etc.
Frustrated with my stupidity!!!!!! Definitely hate cars today.
perksy - 26/2/13 at 09:37 PM
Probably the Rectifier in the Alternator for start, plus some wiring by the sounds of it
If you've now connected the battery correctly, Have you now got an ignition warning light on all the time with the ignition switched off ?
daniel mason - 26/2/13 at 09:38 PM
YOUR PRIDE IS NOW RUINED!
worse things happen at sea mate, dont worry about it!
Norfolkluegojnr - 26/2/13 at 09:39 PM
no, no lights at all.
the alt is disconnected though, as the wiring is totally shot.
There are three wires on the alt, one is the warning lamp - that seems fine - plus two others that go to the starter solenoid at the same terminal?
I'm confused? (not for the first time today clearly)
Norfolkluegojnr - 26/2/13 at 09:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
YOUR PRIDE IS NOW RUINED!
worse things happen at sea mate, dont worry about it!
New this would start
I deserve all punishment and ridicule due. Sadly, not the most stupid thing ive done though.
RIE - 26/2/13 at 10:06 PM
I'm not going to point and laugh, because I know I will do the same (or probably something even worse). And I probably already have done, just
blocked it out of my memory.
Norfolkluegojnr - 4/3/13 at 09:54 AM
Just to round this one off and for future numptys....
Rewired the alternator and all appears to be well. Charging light went straight out and I'm getting 14v at the battery. It appears no other
damage was caused, but I did spend a long time checking all wiring!
So all in all fairly minor in the end.
Jimfin - 4/3/13 at 09:30 PM
Not a Minor, just a Mini problem then