battery and alternator connections

[kikkegek]

guys,

I have some questions.

I replaced all my ground-wires today, because I thought I had a bad ground problem.

In that proces I took a look at my positive connections at the battery and around the engine bay too...got some questions.

1 - when I check the Chilton and Haynes, they both show the battery directly connected to the alternator +. is that how it is hooked up with you guys?

2 - I followed the thick red from the alternator to the battery and it goes like this:
alternator --> connector on firewall --> some strange device on right side above the fender --> connector on the chassis --> to the battery +

this is what that strange device looks like:



this strange device has no numbers on it and it also has a connection to the ground on the chassis.

picture of the connection on the firewall:


can anybody tell me what that strange device is?

how are your rides hooked up?

and I think the red wires are far to thin? arent they?

the wire in this picture that goes to the left (thin one) is the wire that is supposed to charge my battery? isnt that way too thin?