Alternator battery cable melted

[hawthroned]

00 2700SCR

As stated, the connector on the cable from the alternator to the battery melted and everything shut off while underway once the battery drained. Luckily we were following friends and were able to replace the connector and make it home, but I am wondering what could cause that to happen. No change/modifications have been made that would draw more power so I don't know if this is a sign of a bigger problem?

[pascavone]

you have a short.

for that much amp to cook a wire that big, means there was no fuse in front of it.

I bet if you follow the battery cable route to the starter, you will find then cable laying on the Y-pipe or exhaust manifold, and the insulator burned clear through shorting the wire to ground.

The other possibility is a alternator rectifier bridge burned out, this regulates the output of the alternator.

Also a dead battery with shorted plates inside.