Alternator - Connections

[Tripyrenees]

I took my alternator apart as part of my engine build, I have a felling I buggered it but just want to check a few things.

So there are three connections on the rear -

B+ - goes directly to the battery
B - - goes to -ve connection of the regulator (chassis earth)
DF - goes to the field connector of the regulator

On the regulator there is a +ve terminal thats goes to the ignition switch.

So is my theory correct - when you turn the ignition, it send 12 Volts to the regulator which then send voltage to the DF of the alternator to get it charging. Is this correct??

What I have is a permanent 12 volts on the DF output of the alternator, basically a short across the B+ terminal and the DF terminal, which is putting a permanent 12 volts on the +ve of the regulator. So back to front and causing me a few issues.

Does it sound like my alternator is buggered??

 

[Tripyrenees]

All done - the tolerances on the "air gap" insulation of the alternator are very tight. Opened up the alternator and reset the terminals inside and made sure each step I did a continuity test to make sure nothing was shorting.

Put it back on the car and followed the voltage path - all electrics now working.