I've done something really stupid today

[andy-xr]

While I'm sat looking at Gumtree at cars under £500 I thought I'd share something. My newtome commuter Peugeot had a problem where the battery terminal was too low for the clip, wrong battery fitted basically. It'd cut out on me a couple of times from one of the leads popping off

So, got up this morning thinking I'd sort it out. Down the shop, new battery of correct size bought, took it home and fitted it. I've fitted hundreds of batteries over the years, but I dont know why, I just wasnt thinking.

Connected up the leads the wrong way round

Soon as the positive went on it sparked and I felt heat in my fingers which were still on the terminal.

Looks like I've fried the alternator, or the fusible link on the alternator, as putting the battery in the right way round, smoke starts wisping up from the alternator wiring. Booked in for a new one on Thursday, everything else seems to work, touchwood.

I feel dumb

[Arbathnot]

Don't worry. I will do something really stupid tommorrow or the next day. Mrs A will let me know what it is.