Lithium Upgrade and OBD settings.

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Hi, Could someone please post me the step by step proceedure to change the OBD settings for my Lithium/DC-DC upgrade.

Everything works very well except the GC brain starts shutting down functions when the Lithium is only half discharged so need to update the AH setting and the battery type. I'm using VCDS Hex 2 and the GC is a 2021 model, if that makes any difference.

Much appreciated,

Blue Grand Driver.

 

[GordonH]

You will need to access the Special Function Module (KFG/J608) unit for the battery adaption on that module - not Module 19 the Gateway which is for the starter battery. VCDS may or may not have the Special Function 2nd & 3rd battery adaption in the menus. I know OBDEleven Pro does, Car Scanner Pro does not. The 2nd battery monitor is the J934 battery monitor that sits on the -ve terminal of the leisure battery and is LIN connected to the J608. I've just replaced my AGM which was at the end of its useful life for a slightly larger one (Platinum 100Ah AGM) which was identical in size to the Varta 95Ah and recoded the GC via OBDEleven. Sequence I went through - Bonnet up (not sure thats required) > ignition on > Special Function Unit > Battery adaption 2nd Battery > update capacity & serial number to 1234567890. My battery chemistry did not change so I didn't alter anything there but OBDEleven has a drop down menu for chemistry in that battery adaption section. I then did a Hard reset on the KFG/J608. SOC immediately dropped to 60%. Turned off the red switch, unplugged the fuse from the factory solar and locked the van for 8 hours to allow it to deep sleep. After 8 hours, unlocked and turned everything back on. The battery SOC had changed to 70%, Plugged in shore power for a few days for a full 100% SOC reset and all seems good. Do you have a DCDC installed, if not suggest you think about that as continuing with the factory charge relay is not ideal as it parallels the starter and leisure together which charging which is fine for common chemistries, not ideal for mixed chemistry. It also controls the peak charging currents the battery will see, without it it will you get the full alternator capability which I believe is 180A which may be beyond your lithiums capability and cause the batteries internal BMS to trigger with unpredictable results. The chemistry adaption may change that alternator peak (various forums suggest it does in the starter battery adaption) but you would need to confirm.

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Gordon, much appreciated. Yes, I have a dc-dc converter fitted. A victron 50 amp. So it is definitely found in the module KFG, not module 19. I have been told both from other sources. Good to get the clarification. Thanks.

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Gordon, I don’t suppose you can remember if there was a lithium option on the OBDeleven drop down menu or if there were any other options in the battery adaption menu besides the ones you have mentioned. Thanks in advance.

 

[GordonH]

Probably but can’t say for certain. There was a drop down menu for battery type but I didn’t look at what types were available in the list as it said AGM and I was just replacing like for like. I can take a quick look at the options but may not be able to get round to it today, out and about in the van. Can VCDS see the special function module and does it have battery adaption in that module ?

 

[GordonH]

Just an fyi - the process of resetting the KFG and allowing the sleep seems to be important. I initially did neither and the battery soc sat at 60 % for days on shore power. It wasn’t until I hard reset the KFG and allowed the 8 hours deep sleep with all loads and sources off that thinks kicked back into life. Don’t know exactly what’s going on under the hood there and perhaps it only needs one of those things but if definitely need more than just the recode to properly adjust.

 

[GordonH]

Yes. Full suite of battery technologies to choose.

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Gordon, that is great thanks. I actually only have a veepeak with Carscanner which doesn’t work so I am taking it to a local coding expert at a European car shop. Wanting to get him well briefed on what to expect first. Much appreciate the photo.
I noticed when I changed my battery to the greater capacity lithium that the SOC started to make sense after a couple of charging cycles. I think the J934 learns when the battery is full and then counts down from there to when it thinks there is a flat battery looking at amps not voltage. What manufacturing year is your 600 btw?

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Gordon, all, re programmed for the new lithium battery and all functions working as per expected. No hassles in resetting parameters using VCDS. I think it’s a very good set up, 3 x the AH and half the weight up front. Very tidy and efficient and fixes one of the weak points on the GC. Thanks again. Anyone want a step by step, happy to oblige.

 

[G-A-R-Y]

So, you changed your battery under the floor to a Lithium type, the one that starts the engine??

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

No, the house battery. Not the starter battery.

 

[G-A-R-Y]

You need to do more research, what you've done is wrong. Have you fitted a B2B or left original relay?

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Hi Gary, have a read through the thread and then appreciate any improvement ideas. Always learning. Cheers.

 

[Tourdeyorkshire]

Gordon, all, re programmed for the new lithium battery and all functions working as per expected. No hassles in resetting parameters using VCDS. I think it’s a very good set up, 3 x the AH and half the weight up front. Very tidy and efficient and fixes one of the weak points on the GC. Thanks again. Anyone want a step by step, happy to oblige.

Yes please - I’m wondering how you connected the DCC charger to the lithium and bypassed the factory split relay. Thanks.

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

Hi, replaced the factory split shunt with a Victron Orion XS. Set at 50 amps. There is plenty of room behind the battery to mount it and existing cables all good. It’s arguably not necessary once the GC is programmed for lithium, but all the advice was to do it to be on the safe side. The wiring is obvious. Any other questions? I got it professionally installed but it’s very straight forward. Trickiest bit is getting the heavy agm out.

 

[Tourdeyorkshire]

I’m guessing by “factory split shunt” you mean the terminal busbar thingy (see pic) on the battery positive side with a 200A fuse plus 2 x 100A fuses (and a spare unconnected 300A stud)?

If so, is the incoming alternator connector the 200A cable?

 

[Blue Grand Driver.]

I’m guessing by “factory split shunt” you mean the terminal busbar thingy (see pic) on the battery positive side with a 200A fuse plus 2 x 100A fuses (and a spare unconnected 300A stud)?

If so, is the incoming alternator connector the 200A cable?

View attachment 150290

No, the split charge relay is behind the battery mounted on the right behind the plastic jump start cover and to the right. Follow the positive cable to it.

 

[Tourdeyorkshire]

Thanks - will do.