Wireing Problem..

Ok the other day I put my alternator back in and I didnt remeber how it was wired, so i just pluged it in how I thought it was supose to be..
After I started the car and ran it for a little while I saw smoke coming from inside, quickly shut the car off and pulled the battery + out... I took the gauges out I saw that it had completely melted the ground wire in the wireing harness..???

also I checked my battery and saw that its giving out 17 volts? which is really high??
Did I buy the wrong battery?
I dont know how to wire the alternator any one have a good wireing Diagram I have 2 but they suck..

The problem is that non of the wires are push type there all nuts that i have to put in.. all i know on the alt is the positive (+) side and the ground (-) what are the other wires for?