A VMC PA28-140 PVT PLT LOSES HIS ELECTRICAL SYS DUE TO A MAJOR FAULT AND LANDS WITHOUT CLRNC AT FWA; IN.

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I WAS FLYING APPROX 8 SM FROM FWA AT 1600 FT MSL WITH A PAX WHO WAS TAKING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE CHARGING CIRCUIT THAT HAD CAUSED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE GENERATOR TO KICK OUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FLT. I HAD NOT NOTICED THIS UNTIL THE POINT IN TIME THAT I HAD JUST NOTIFIED FWA APCH OF MY INTENTIONS TO COME BACK INTO FWA TO LAND. AS I HAD NOTIFIED FWA; WHO HAD ME ON RADAR (SQUAWK CODE ON MY XPONDER); AND WENT TO NOTIFY THEM A SECOND TIME; MY RADIOS SPUTTERED ONCE AND WENT DEAD. THE DUAL FUEL TANKS AND GAUGES WERE ACTING UP AND ONE OF THE GAUGES READ EMPTY. NOT KNOWING FOR SURE IF I HAD JUST RADIO PROBS OR BOTH RADIO PROBS AND MECHANICAL PROBS; I SQUAWKED 7700 ON MY XPONDER. THE SIGNAL LIGHT ON MY XPONDER WAS BLINKING; SO I ASSUMED THEY HAD MY SIGNAL; SO I WENT INTO FWA AND SAFELY LANDED. ACCORDING TO THE PLACE I RENT THE PLANE FROM; THERE WAS A SHORTED WIRE AND A CAPACITOR ON THE MAGNETO THAT CAUSED THE BREAKER TO KICK OUT. WHEN WE CALLED FWA TWR; THEY INDICATED THERE WERE NO PROBS; BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF MY PROBS OR THAT I LANDED. IT SEEMS TO ME THE CHEROKEE 140 (1967) HAS A GAUGE THAT SHOWS THE ELECTRICAL LOAD THAT COULD'VE TIPPED ME OFF THAT THERE WAS A PROB; BUT WOULDN'T IT BE INEXPENSIVE AND SMART TO HAVE THE PLANES EQUIPPED WITH A WARNING LIGHT OR OTHER DEVICE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR GENERATOR OR ALTERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING AND/OR YOUR ELECTRICAL SYS VOLTAGE OR OUTPUT IS DROPPING BELOW A SAFE LEVEL.