Alternator-smoke-rollocks-help

[DrGonzoPOW]

I may have accidentally fried my alternator this morning when re-fittting my battery. Can you use E30 ones ?

I connected the positive first as thats the way i thought it was. But when i attacted the negative, it sparked like a bitch and smoke came from the alternator......????

[Jason_323i]

You can use e30 but if is it is bigger ampage one (115A i think) the ring terminals are larger so you might need a bit of minor wiring mods

Jason

[DrGonzoPOW]

what amp is the standard 320/6 one ? There's 80amp ones on ebays for the 320i E30
Would the smoke come from a short, faulty alternator or the fact its not earthed for some reason btw?

[Jason_323i]

80A should do and if you need to get a bit getto and open the ring terminal with a step drill

Jason

[rob0r]

I have E21 323i ones laying around if needed

[DrGonzoPOW]

will they be same fitment/ampage mate? when it comes to the electrics system i know nothing. Need to figure out why it happened too. cheers

[DrGonzoPOW]

Anyone ??

[e21-Mark]

It'll be fine mate.

[DrGonzoPOW]

I dont understand what caused it though Mark, is it a fault with the battery,the alternator,the grounding!?
The red wire closest to the left hand side of the engine bay is the positive right ?? I had charged the battery with an in house charger before i re-fitted it. Not that doing so would make a difference ??

[e21-Mark]

I can't recall the OE battery terminals as mines in the boot. I'm guessing that connecting the battery the wrong way shorted it out? Electrics are Swahili to me mate.

[DrGonzoPOW]

Yes...it looks like its me who's just a facking retard. Checked an old picture i had of my engine bay and i did indeed have the battery the wrong way round. I just assumed that the red/orangy colour cable on the left of the bay was positive and made the mistake . Balls! Anyway, the car runs fine, just need a new alternator it would seem. I assume that the battery light on the dash means its shagged ? It comes on when the car is off though which i thought was a bit strange. You would think it'd be on when the engines running as there's no charge going to the battery. WIZOR!!! Sort us an alternator out me old tea pot lid!


p.s- It seems the 323 alt's are 65 amp and the 320/6 55 amp. Could i use a 323 one without overloading anything? And are all the fitments the same ?? Ta

[DrGonzoPOW]

Anyone know please ??????

[e21-Mark]

If anything the bit extra is a good thing! All it going to do is charge the battery a little more efficiently or possibly make your lights a tiny bit brighter? It certainly won't fry anything. Depending how long you left your old battery wrongly connected, a new one might be wise, if you can stretch to it?

[DrGonzoPOW]

Yeah, it was hooked up wrongly for a few mins, the car turned over though which was wierd.
I have run the car with it back in properly and it ran fine other than the battery light coming on when the engine was off. What kind of battery would i need to get? I really know nothing about the electric side of things.

[e21-Mark]

Should be fine then. New alternator and jobs a good'un.