My bother has an old mini 1980 (ithink)
Its died!
Charge the battery and it will run for about 5 mins then it cuts out and all the electics dead no power to starter, lights, wipers ect
The battery and leads get very warm during this time and there is something drawing power and theres sparks when disconecting and connecting the battery (the battery is under a year old)
I have tried disconecting the alternator and I still get the sparks and warming of the battery leads with and without the igniton on.

Maybe a dodgy solnoid?

Cheers

Befs

does the ignition light go out? will the engine still run if you dissconnect the battery once started?

there is def a short somewhere;start at the begining check the battery leads,correct way round.check that the leads are not corroded and earthing to the body work, is therea place where the + has worn through and earthing?
has it really an alternator? check to see if the brushes in the alt or dynamo have worn out and the terminals shorting to the casing.
who wants an old mini anyway! should have called them LOTUS
Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious.

lol

I got it sorted out had a good crawl about underneath and found the main cable from the battery was earthing out against the subframe, guess my brother is lucky the whole thing didn't go up in flames.

your sure is kid!!!!!!!!!