Sparks and smoke not good!

[BlueDart]

Yes a newbie a first hook up of cables to the well charged battery. There were a number of cables to go to the positive negative post and I guessed wrong.
Saw sparks fly when touching the positive so shied away and in touching the wires to the negative post realized they were quite warm.
Before I could get all disconnected there was some smoke in the back compartment.
The key was not on so was hopeful that there would be no damage done and went ahead with proper hookup so I had power to raise the stern drive for trailering.
What damage might I have done and how best to find it????

Thanks and anxiously await some guidance ......... !

 

[alldodge]

Would help if we knew what were working on.

If motor cranks then the fuse or breaker is not blown/tripped. After starting check output on alternator, gauges and such. Where ever it was smoking look for burnt stuff.

 

[BlueDart]

Better try to start then and see what works but don't visually see anything burnt.
Thanks

 

[Bondo]

so I had power to raise the stern drive for trailering.

Ayuh,..... What motor,..??

What drive,..??

 

[BlueDart]

I don't see or smell anything burnt.
It's a 3litre Chevy OMC engine 1985 vintage all in good shape.
Will start this weekend but not sure what to look for as indication of damage.
If alternator damaged will it be noisy or will I just lose battery power due to lack of charging?
I have a multi meter but never tested an alternator so not sure of approach.
Comments/advice appreciated.

 

[alldodge]

If alternator is blown it will not be producing voltage. Measure it at a bit higher idle and it should be in the 13.5 to 14V something area

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks and have bought a multi meter.
Really dumb question but testing is done I presume on the alternator itself and not the battery but seems challenging when you have motor running and belt spinning.
Am I missing something here?

 

[alldodge]

You can check on the battery, the ALT output goes straight back to the bat thru a fuse. Check the bat voltage before starting and while the motor is running

 

[BlueDart]

Thanks ALLDODGE.