Your unknown device is probably a diode and is connected to the output of the alternator. It can be checked with a meter using the diode selection symbol on the meter dial (this measures voltage drop). It should read ~.750v in one direction and no reading in the other. The other possibility is that is it a ferrite bead used to filter out high frequency noise, thus for all practical purposes, a direct connection. Where does this wire go, because that is where the draw is coming from?
P.S. It would be helpful to markup the pictures, (you can use power point for this) because it is confusing trying the match up your written descriptions with the photos.
P.S. It would be helpful to markup the pictures, (you can use power point for this) because it is confusing trying the match up your written descriptions with the photos.