Battery dead after setting overnight...

Hello Buick friends, I done something stupid the other day, after removing the battery from my 71 lark to run the winch on my trailer to help a friend who was broken down, I got in a hurry and hooked the battery up backwards on the Buick and Sparks flew and the majic smoke came from the alternator. Now the battery drains overnight, however when the car is running is charging. What did I do?

 

You may have fried a diode in the alternator or the regulator.

 

You may have hurt the battery internally.

 

Just checked system, it's charging up to 17 volts.. W hen ignition is off and I unhook battery + terminal there is a small spark, but when I unhook the regulator and then unhook bat+ terminal there is no spark. If the alternator is putting out 17 volts the problem must be the reg. Right??

 

Right.

 

17 volts can also hurt the battery.

 

I would take the alternator to a parts store that can check it and then replace the regulator.

 

Good evening Buick friends, so this afternoon I purchased an alternator with a built in regulator and installed it on the car and shazam, car charges 14.4volts. everything is all good here in the prairie. Oh I did have to make 2 very small jumpers and hook them in where the regulator goes.. Thanks for all your replies. Later Kirk out...