Alternator stator output burned up

[chris in SG]

One of my Balmar 6 series alternators has failed and I'm still searching for a good shop to look at it. When I removed it, I realized that the stator output had burned all the insulation off and destroyed the connector (definitely stator and not field supply).

This seems odd, since the stator output is purely a signal for the tacho. Does anyone know if this dramatic symptom says anything about the internal fault that must have occurred?

[Jammer]

Wiring problem on the boat. As you point out, the AC output from the stator should not carry any significant current as it is meant to drive instruments only.