hi all i rewired my battery cables and on the positive (aka live terminal) of the solenoid i reconnected the battery cable, altenator cables etc (as were previously there) and then alas turned on the key and smoke poured out of my engine bay via the brand new alt...
im going to take it to a sparky... but just wondering out of interest what you guys think could have caused it besides my inherent stoopidity!?

May still be the alternator yet, but I don't think so.

Perhaps you wired the 12 volts from the soleoid to a ground connection on the alternator instead of the field?

What were your connections?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Once you let the smoke out of the alternator it won't work

Sounds like you crossed something over & shorted it out. The sparky can test your alternator & repair/replace as necessary. Take along a spare if you have one (but get any used ones tested before you fit it).

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Too many cars, and too little time.

If you put the battery in backwards (making it pos earth) with an alternator, it will do that. They all MUST be NEG earth.
It's terminal, (pardon the pun).
Will need a new rectifier stack in the alternator, at least.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

hee hee,,,good one Kev,,,"Terminal",,, LoL

a bit like when you`re affraid of flying in aeroplanes & you get to the airport & it says "TERMINAL"

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Or that you suffer from 'terra firma'. The less firm, the more terra!

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Morphias.
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If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space...