Catastrophic alternator failures preventable?

[xsara92]

I had my first experience of alternator death last week with a petrol Xsara Picasso, on a 40mph urban road, and was lucky to be in a bit of clear traffic at the time.
The worst thing apart from the risk of a collision was the acrid smoke from the burnout. It transpired later at the garage that the alternator had also taken out the starter motor and the battery fuse.
I'm wondering if there is any way to mitigate for such catastrophic failures. Needless to say vehicle was a write-off. More thinking of safety though. Are there any visual or other signs of an alternator that's going to fail like a firework?

[wheeler]

I'm curious how a faulty alternator can take out a starter motor? There shouldn't be any current flowing through it unless you are trying to start the engine.

Its not usual way alternators fail although it can happen. Normally they just stop working & that is it.
I suppose you can keep an ear out for noisy bearings or keep an eye out for an oil leaking into it.

[ozvtr]

Classics alternator failure is worn carbon brushes. Then worn sliprings. Then the regulator. On the very rare occasion, a diode. Worn front bearing is common but they don't stop the alternator from working...they just squeal.
But "fireworks" are almost unheard of!
Perhaps the starter took out the alternator? Typically the power cable runs from battery positive to the starter then from the starter to the alternator. If the starter was a short, that would explain it? Don't ask me how the starter might become a short. But that's more plausible. But it would boil the battery too. However, you mentioned a battery fuse?
If the car is a write off, the under bonnet fire might be too bad to ascertain the actual cause. Seems that whether or not the alternator caused the damage is the least of your troubles?