Alternator Wires Melted, What did I do Wrong? Options

[newto914s]

We, my father and I, were in the process of changing the alternator (the old one froze) http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act...81&hl=newto914s

We got a rebuilt from autozone, but after putting it in we figured out it had a bad diode(never go to autozone). I ordered another one from a place online I get a lot of parts for my old Benz from. It was cheap. $80 for a bosch rebuild + 20 core charge, they have free shipping, and I usually receive my order the day after I place it(crazy fast).
Now I wasn’t there for this, but after my Dad reinstalled the alternator when reconnected the Battery cables the wire harness on the altenator started to fried. By the time he got the wire off the battery again it had completely melted the wire going from the Alt. to the starter, and singed the wires going to the relay board.
What might have caused this? I already ordered a new harness from Jeff, but after I change it I don’t want to melt another one.
Could it be the wrong amp Alt. It’s a 55 amp
Oh, 1.8 block with D-jet
Thanks guys
Samson

[newto914s]

Again, I was not there for the Melting, but after taking to me Dad he sounded fairly sure he hooked it up right. The Rebuild came back with the resister on one pole, so hooked it to the other pole. The boot on the wire was in good shape, so I don't think it shorted that way. Mabye the insulation on the Red wire caused it to ground out, but their is no way to check now cause it all melted off. The old gasket the seperated the airguid from the ALT disintegrated, but thank could have done this.

ClayPerrine how would I use an "ohmmeter to check to see which post is ground"

My Dad is going to pull it out again on Friday so we'll see then