87 Ranger 2.9v6
Was having a stuttering problem while driving and then would stutter whenever I used the fan switch on high and the headlight switch on....didn't stutter with only the fan on medium speed, but stuttered when turning on more items that drew power. I took the alternator off and had it tested....all was ok....it turned out to be a poor + battery cable at the battery. Then 1 week later as I was driving the truck and it just died.....pulled over and the truck wouldn't start...no power to anything. Found a burnt fusible link (14 ga.) on the starter relay...connected to a large wire black/orange stripe. Found out this wire went to the alternator.

I unpluged the connecter from the alternator (two large wires black/orange stripe and a smaller wire). Then when I plugged the connector back on the alternator, the plugin on the alternator was broken and I could plug the connecter into the alternator two different ways. Would plugging in the alternator backwards have let my truck run for a week and then all of a sudden burn the fusible link? Or do I need to look for other causes as to what burnt the link? Before fixing the fusible link I made sure the battery still put out 12v, and it did. I hope I didn't cause any other damage to any other wires.
After plugging in the connecter the right way into the alternator (went to the auto parts store to find out which way it plugged in) and fixing the fusible link, I drove the truck home with fan on high,radio playing,and headlights on without the stuttering.
Sorry this is such a long post.....any comments to my questions would be greatly appreciated ( I'm a Trauma Nurse, Mechanic by default...hahaha).