Alternator gauge is smoking

Could also take a HF voltmeter, put it on amps and connect it in series where the ammeter would go and see what kind of amps you're pulling. If the problem goes away it's either something internal to the factory gauge or a connection issue at the back of the gauge itself. The pics of the gauge look great but that obviously doesn't tell the whole story.

If you use a HF meter to do the reading, just make sure that you connect and tape the leads on it to the vehicles wire leads very securely so they don't slip or short out on anything. Sometimes reading amps can be a pain depending on where it needs to be done at but you've already done the difficult part by removing the gauge.