450: Electrical Question

[DavefromNZ]

A lot has been covered here but with our 2012 L450 this is what I have found:
80A engine alternator gives about 40A charge (single engine running). Apart from the alternator efficiency I was told it was sensing the starter battery requirement and not the house batteries.
60A+40A=100A chargers, run from gen or shore power. Start charging at maybe 90A but decrease to say 40-60A quite quickly.
Solar (960W). Typically get 35A charge. Max seen 55A in good conditions.
Yacht uses about 15-35A when underway. Fridges use 3x5A=15A when all running.
Cheers, Dave

[Emerald Sea]

J. I'll suggest that before you invest into Balmar or other high output alternators that you first put your money into the solar system, as much as you can fit or afford. Then decide later if you need the alternators. You don't want to be running your engines or alternator all the time to pop up your batteries; let your solar do this work, and then if its not enough, I believe your 80A stock alternators or generator are plenty for topping off. This is how we apply our philosophy and its fine - though I'd like more solar