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Thread: Reversed battery terminals/polarity

  1. 28th September 2012, 01:35 PM #1
    StuRR80's Avatar
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    Reversed battery terminals/polarity

    I'm an A grade tool at the moment. Old battery died, I replaced it with a different brand & connected up the terminals the wrong way around. No the sparks didn't cause me to stop..... Yep A Grade!!!

    So now the alternator sends out plumes of smoke even though I've corrected the error. I assume I've fused the alternator & it's screwed?

    So annoyed with myself at the moment....

    Vehicle is a 1981 Range Rover. Luckily it's just the farm/spares one, not the daily drive.
    Cheers,
    Stu

    1993 Range Rover Vogue SE 3.9lt - languishing
    2 x 1981 3.5lt V8 2dr Range Rover
    1958 Series 1 109" - "Bob" - COVID project

    Who wants another politician as Head of State? Not me:
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  2. 28th September 2012, 01:56 PM #2
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    bee utey
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    Dropping a few hundred amps through an alternator will be unkind to it. I suggest you disconnect all the wires to the alternator, see if the engine still runs, then adapt a suitable second hand Bosch alternator off a wreck of some sort.
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  3. 28th September 2012, 02:45 PM #3
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    There is a old saying "Man with tool in hand not necessary mechanic."

    Not saying your a tool just a bit unlucky.
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  4. 28th September 2012, 02:55 PM #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by bussy1963 View Post
    There is a old saying "Man with tool in hand not necessary mechanic."

    Not saying your a tool just a bit unlucky.

    an certainly NOT a mechanic!!
    Cheers,
    Stu

    1993 Range Rover Vogue SE 3.9lt - languishing
    2 x 1981 3.5lt V8 2dr Range Rover
    1958 Series 1 109" - "Bob" - COVID project

    Who wants another politician as Head of State? Not me:
    http://www.monarchist.org.au/
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  5. 28th September 2012, 02:56 PM #5
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    StuRR80
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    Quote Originally Posted by bee utey View Post
    Dropping a few hundred amps through an alternator will be unkind to it. I suggest you disconnect all the wires to the alternator, see if the engine still runs, then adapt a suitable second hand Bosch alternator off a wreck of some sort.

    Thanks Bee Utey! Yep engine runs, so off to find an alternator....
    Cheers,
    Stu

    1993 Range Rover Vogue SE 3.9lt - languishing
    2 x 1981 3.5lt V8 2dr Range Rover
    1958 Series 1 109" - "Bob" - COVID project

    Who wants another politician as Head of State? Not me:
    http://www.monarchist.org.au/
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  6. 28th September 2012, 03:04 PM #6
    PhilipA
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    Don't feel bad.
    My son jump started his BMW M3 by attaching the negative to the battery point under the bonnet .
    when I told him that was positive he said" but it is not red!"
    Cost him an alternator but luckily not an ECU.

    Regards Philip A
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  7. 28th September 2012, 03:21 PM #7
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    Hi,
    my son did the same, but it was the second (domestic) battery.
    Lots of sparks and burnt out the alternator diodes.
    New alternator AND put fuse on the wire to the VSR.
    cheers
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  8. 28th September 2012, 05:59 PM #8
    shibby73
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    I did that to my girlfriends ford falcon a few years ago and nothing even happened!
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  9. 28th September 2012, 06:02 PM #9
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    clubagreenie
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    I did that chaging a battery (out of car) connected in reverse, checked and held charge on the opposite terminals (neg was pos) so fitted to car and started, lasted 5 years until I sold it. Advised owner and lasted 8 years in total.
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  10. 1st October 2012, 08:27 AM #10
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    I'd like to know how you get the different size battery leads onto the battery terminals, surely the different sizes (- small, + big) should have been a pointer, I know by this time you would have stuffed things anyway, but size of terminals, not colour should be the guide, Regards Frank.
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