Quick update on this. I spoke to Simon at the SL shop re what could have happened to my brand new alternator.
His opinion is that the wires going to the alternator melted due to going the 'shortest way' from the right hand side wing to the alternator.
In his opinion, this got the wires too close to the engine headers and melted the wires.
The 'right' way to do it apparently is to route the wiring loom the 'long' way which is supposedly from the top of the alterntor and keep any wiring as far as possible from heating source in the engine bay.
Apparently, it is a common mistake that restorers make. I was not aware of it and my alernator is presumably kapput as a result.
Better be informed then...