Good point. Its actually the voltage spikes that are most damaging incrementally to electronics. The sort of thing that will happen if your rectifier isn't working well and allowing ac spikes through into what should be clean, flat, dc...

 

Just changed the battery and am having this issue, gauge cluster discolored and very hot to touch. Please help .

 

What are the voltages of the battery when the engine is off and when it's idling?

Thanks!