alternator

Ok i am having such a frustrating couple of days with this thing. The other night when i was driving home my alternator took a dump on me. So I replaced the alternator and when i hooked it up it shorted out again. so i had the alternator and battery tested both were bad. So i bought new battery and exchanged the alternator just for the alternator to go bad yet again. I have looked for bad grounds burned wires i can not figure out what is causing this and i need it fixed. BTW can the computer have anything to do with it. O sorry by the way it is a 97 f150 4.2 liter engine

Any other recent work done to the truck? Any recent collision damage? Any add on's? Boat trailer still hooked up to it ? Any off roading? Double and triple check wiring and cables. Make sure polarity is correct. Doubt the computer could cause this but this could affect the computer.

No no tow package of any sort and no offroading. Put KC lights underbody neons and a stereo system in recently but have unhooked all of that with the same end result.

Take no wiring for granted. I'd especially check the cables going to the fender relay and down to the starter. I hope yer running those accys through a relay circuit and dedicated fuse.
Oh yeah, if that stereo system includes subs then theres some more serious cables and routing that needs to be checked.

well the stereo system is on a cap and dedicated fuse the neons and kc lights are on their own relays and even with all of that unhooked the alternator still shorted out

Make sure you haven't pinched the alt B+ wire to the alternator between the mounting brackets and the ring terminal isn't shorting to the case. I suggest you dont go on wire appearance alone. Move each wire physically to make sure it didnt melt to something or wires melted together.