alternator question

[Typhoon #1133]

I just had my alternator checked at autozone and they said it was not working at all when they first checked it. i then reved it up and it still read low at 11 volts. so i bought a new alternator and just put it on. i never changed one before. i put it on just like the other one was and i put the - line back on the battery. when i try to put the + on it sparks like crazy and left black marks on my battery. most of the time it sparked, but never this mutch. i dont want to hook it up and fry anything. is this ok or is there something i can check first?

 

[V6 Kompressor]

Make sure the big wire that bolts on the back of the alternator, isn't grounded out on something.... Also if you have your headlights on or ignition switch on when you try to hook the battery up, you will tend to get sparks... sometimes when you have a big stereo system, the caps charging will also throw out big sparks... disconnect the alternator and wrap the wire'e end with electrical tape and hook the battery back up.... if there aren't any big sparks now, then you may have a problem with the new alternator... You also want to charge up your battery real good, cause a week battery can kill your new alternator... there was probably a tag on the new alternator refering to this... Hope this helps...