Alternators

Not sure what you mean by "wiring in the back of it."
There's either just one connector or two connectors, plus the output stud.

A short on the output will melt the fusible link.
A non-regulated output can boil the battery acid out. That's a regulator issue.

Converting to a internally regulator will need some wiring work. Otherwise the field connection may backfeed the ignition and the engine will keep running even with the key off.