Electrical short?

While driving my car, the blower motor was on low, wipers on intermittent, and all of a sudden the charge light came on, everything went to high speed, dash lights came on, (it was daylight and they were not on), and then the car just died. No power to anything. Battery would not take a jump. I had the alternator tested and it is ok, charged the battery, but I am afraid to hook the battery back up. Inside the car, while everything was happening, I did smell a slight hint of warm wiring, but no smoke. Outside the car, there was nothing hot, smoking, or smell of burnt wiring. Should I connect the battery back and check for the surge of power again, or is there something that I need to look at or do before I connect the battery. I am lost at what to do next. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks