Triumph Repair: alternator/general, starter solenoid, brown wires

Question
QUESTION: i have 3 situations that need explaining, and hopefully a resolution

(1)Im in the process of putting my car back together(off body restoration) but i think i hooked the wires leading away from my alternator incorrectly, because if i keep the battery cables hooked up the battery is dead by the morning,(ive kept the car running for 15-30 mins)
(2) Also to turn the car on i have to turn the key and the car only starts after i let the key go. i dont remember the car starting this way.
(3) when the car is started it puts out a decent bit of white smoke and the car smells pretty gasy. ive tried turning the carb needle to make it more lean, also i cant get the car to idle less than 2,000 rpm ive turned the idle screw as far down as i can, (the car can idle at around 900 with the choke pulled up 3/5 of the way)

thank you so much, i cant wait to get her on the road- this website has helped so much

ANSWER: Hi Earl,
I need to know what kind of car this is.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: sorry, its a 1974 triumph spitfire

thank you

Answer
Earl, I would have to write a book to cover all your issues so we will have to address one at a time.

You should have only three wires on your alternator. Two large 12 ga brown wires that go to the starter solenoid battery connection and you have one small 14 ga brown w/yellow tracer wire that goes to the "Ign" charge light and on to the ignition switch.

Disconnect all three wires from the alt and test them. The two large brown wires should be powered (12v) and take the small wire and turn on the ignition key to ignition and look at the "Ign" charge light and it should be OFF. Ground the brown w/yellow wire and the "Ign" charge light should "Light".

Now take a 12v test light and connect the clip to the large brown wires together and the test probe to each of the large pins on the back of the alt and the test light should NOT light up on either of the large pins. If it does you have a bad diode pack in the alt and it must be corrected.

If the test light does not light up then reconnect all three wires back up to the alt and put a volt meter across the battery posts (not the cable ends) (should be 12.5+ volts) If not charge the battery and retest. Once you have 12.5 volts keep the voltmeter on the battery posts and start the engine and set the RPM at about 1500 RPM and read the volt meter. It should read 13.8 to 14.5 volts and if it does not you may need to correct the alt.

Howard