Truck Died Instantly - Electrical Smoke/Smell

[harrydunn]

I keep my 72 in an off-site shed of mine on high-quality battery tenders for the last 11 years without any issues every. Yesterday, I popped the battery tender off of it, cranked it up and it started just like it always does. I pulled it outstide and let it run while I closed up the shop. It died instantly. No sputtering, just died like you turned the key off which means electrical to me. I raised the hood and instantly saw smoke coming from the battery area and that distinctive electrical smoke smell.

Curious where you think I should start. I have a couple of theories. Either a) my tender overcharged my battery or b) my alternator started overcharging my battery once I started the truck.

Stats: Battery voltage checked at 12.53. Battery is 2.5 years old.

I think my battery is fine--I'm guessing I blew the fusible link on the fender that comes off of the battery and that is what was smoking.

Would you replace fusible link, voltage regulator and alternator? All are at least 11 years old as they have not been changed since I got the truck.

Thank you for your expertise!

--Mark