My 1996 chevy silverado alternator went up in smoke today any ideas why?

[Pete]

i was charging the battery ,took charger off and like 30 min later i moved the truck when i noticed the smoke

 

[bandit_60]

sounds like a short in it.

 

[cowboykev820]

probley a short

 

[Richard]

Its ust old and fried. It happens to every rig at some point. Coulda been electrical problems. It coulda also been because of it just being old it burned up. Wont be to much to replace if you do it yourself

 

[goodnused]

Depending on how many miles are on that alternator....or what might have happened when you had the battery charger on the truck? Was the negative cable disconnected when charging the battery?
Chances are..and depending on why you were charging the battery in the first place??? The Stator was worn out or the diodes in the regulator shorted out. Buy a rebuilt .

 

[dodge man]

the alternator shorted out on it,they,ll do that when they get a fully charged battery hooked up to them,that may be the reason you was having to charge the battery back up on it,when you go to replace it get the best one they got for it,the cheaper ones that auto zone or advance offers aren't al' that good,they offer a cheap rebuilt and a more expensive one,a good one will cost you around a100 bucks for it,good luck on it.