T6.1 2023 Beach Lithium upgrade

[MrB999]

Does anyone have a recent experience of switching out AGM battery on the VW California Beach T6.1.

Any company recommendations where this has been achieved successfully.

I know it means switching out the split charge for DC-DC, changing the shore charger.

The loss of battery level on the camping screen I am sure I can live with as most Lithium batteries come with Bluetooth monitoring. Equally the 'max charge' won't be needed.

Otherwise I believe the system will just receive it's power from Lithium and work the lighting systems as normal. No Fridge etc to worry about, apart form what I add separately.

Thank you. Live in Surrey.

 

[wildslammer22]

I’ve done it on an Ocean which is a bit more involved with two batteries vs one. I can confirm that you don’t actually need to change out the shore charger. The AGM profile is similar enough to LIFEPO4 that it will work pretty well. A DC-DC charger is a must though especially with a smart alternator. There are UK based manufacturers that can supply a 100/105ah LIFEPO4 battery with a near identical dimensions to the existing AGM battery so it should be as simple as replacing the split charge relay with a DC-DC charger which is straightforward enough for any campervan/motorhome specialist. The Magic Motorhome Man in Hampshire is highly regarded if you fancy a trip over the border!

 

[MrB999]

Did you need to upgrade the alternator to dc-dc wiring. I presume you do. Thank you for advice.
Did your camping overhead display work as expected.

 

[wildslammer22]

Did you need to upgrade the alternator to dc-dc wiring. I presume you do. Thank you for advice.
Did your camping overhead display work as expected.

The DC/DC connects directly to the starter battery rather than the alternator and yes you need to use the correct gauge cabling. I have a T6 so I can’t comment on the T6.1 display. The advantage with a Beach which has a single battery rather than 2 is you can fit a smart shunt which will give you SOC data if the display is no longer giving accurate info.

 

[arklife]

Afternoon.

I have recently replaced the 2 No. AGM batteries on my T6.1 Ocean with Titan lithium batteries without any other changes, i.e.: it was a straight swap (AGM out, lithium in) with no changes to any other hardware. I kept the original VW split charger and mains/EHU charger and did not install a DC-DC charger. Titan did the install for me but having seen it done, if you are confident with 12v electrics, a DIY install would be straightforward. The BMS on the Titan batteries has been designed so that they can be dropped in in place of AGM batteries with no other changes. I had this done in mid June and have been in the van for a total of 4 weeks since then, without using EHU for all but one of those nights (I do also have 300W of solar on the roof). The Max Charge function works a treat. I can’t fault the new batteries.

The CCU screen does not display the correct “Time Remaining” (not that it ever really did) but does display the correct voltage and current and, as you have said, the Titan batteries link with an app which does display the correct information (and a lot more than is shown on the CCU screen besides).

I’d love to say that I found these batteries and Titan myself but I was put onto them by another member here, who had done an identical install, through one of his posts. He was very knowledgeable and generous with his time answering my questions and Chris at Titan was also very helpful providing information before I decided to take the plunge. I had been looking at various systems and batteries (CarElectric.de/Super B Epsilon, Califaktur/Saftkiste, bespoke installs, etc.) and the Titan solution, to me, was the best: Titan are UK based, the batteries are (marginally) smaller than the factory fitted AGM batteries (in the Ocean in any case, not sure about the Beach), the battery casing is compatible with the battery fixing/hold down clips already installed, it’s a drop-in installation, the capacity is massive and they are the cheapest (in the round).

I am planning to write up the solution I went with/my experience in a separate post but that is on the long finger until the weather forces me out of the van!

 

[wildslammer22]

Afternoon.

I have recently replaced the 2 No. AGM batteries on my T6.1 Ocean with Titan lithium batteries without any other changes, i.e.: it was a straight swap (AGM out, lithium in) with no changes to any other hardware. I kept the original VW split charger and mains/EHU charger and did not install a DC-DC charger. Titan did the install for me but having seen it done, if you are confident with 12v electrics, a DIY install would be straightforward. The BMS on the Titan batteries has been designed so that they can be dropped in in place of AGM batteries with no other changes. I had this done in mid June and have been in the van for a total of 4 weeks since then, without using EHU for all but one of those nights (I do also have 300W of solar on the roof). The Max Charge function works a treat. I can’t fault the new batteries.

The CCU screen does not display the correct “Time Remaining” (not that it ever really did) but does display the correct voltage and current and, as you have said, the Titan batteries link with an app which does display the correct information (and a lot more than is shown on the CCU screen besides).

I’d love to say that I found these batteries and Titan myself but I was put onto them by another member here, who had done an identical install, through one of his posts. He was very knowledgeable and generous with his time answering my questions and Chris at Titan was also very helpful providing information before I decided to take the plunge. I had been looking at various systems and batteries (CarElectric.de/Super B Epsilon, Califaktur/Saftkiste, bespoke installs, etc.) and the Titan solution, to me, was the best: Titan are UK based, the batteries are (marginally) smaller than the factory fitted AGM batteries (in the Ocean in any case, not sure about the Beach), the battery casing is compatible with the battery fixing/hold down clips already installed, it’s a drop-in installation, the capacity is massive and they are the cheapest (in the round).

I am planning to write up the solution I went with/my experience in a separate post but that is on the long finger until the weather forces me out of the van!

Sounds like a great option, wish I’d known about before I did mine! At the time I couldn’t find LIFEPO4 batteries that were identical (or smaller) than the factory AGM's, it wasn’t an issue for the one under the seat but a real pain for the one in the rear!

I assume you can’t charge the batteries to 100% from the split charge which I guess isn’t an issue in summer with 300w of solar but might be an inconvenience in winter?

 

[WelshGas]

Sounds like a great option, wish I’d known about before I did mine! At the time I couldn’t find LIFEPO4 batteries that were identical (or smaller) than the factory AGM's, it wasn’t an issue for the one under the seat but a real pain for the one in the rear!

I assume you can’t charge the batteries to 100% from the split charge which I guess isn’t an issue in summer with 300w of solar but might be an inconvenience in winter?

You can use the Max Charge switch on the T6.1 or switch on headlights or heated seats, all of which switch off the Smart Alternator 80% limit and goes to 100%, charging all batteries to 100%.

 

[arklife]

Yes, that's right: the batteries can be charged to 100% with the Max Charge function. I have two (nominal) 120Ah batteries and, when 100% charged, have 251Ah available.

 

[Kemper-van]

Afternoon.

I have recently replaced the 2 No. AGM batteries on my T6.1 Ocean with Titan lithium batteries without any other changes, i.e.: it was a straight swap (AGM out, lithium in) with no changes to any other hardware. I kept the original VW split charger and mains/EHU charger and did not install a DC-DC charger. Titan did the install for me but having seen it done, if you are confident with 12v electrics, a DIY install would be straightforward. The BMS on the Titan batteries has been designed so that they can be dropped in in place of AGM batteries with no other changes. I had this done in mid June and have been in the van for a total of 4 weeks since then, without using EHU for all but one of those nights (I do also have 300W of solar on the roof). The Max Charge function works a treat. I can’t fault the new batteries.

The CCU screen does not display the correct “Time Remaining” (not that it ever really did) but does display the correct voltage and current and, as you have said, the Titan batteries link with an app which does display the correct information (and a lot more than is shown on the CCU screen besides).

I’d love to say that I found these batteries and Titan myself but I was put onto them by another member here, who had done an identical install, through one of his posts. He was very knowledgeable and generous with his time answering my questions and Chris at Titan was also very helpful providing information before I decided to take the plunge. I had been looking at various systems and batteries (CarElectric.de/Super B Epsilon, Califaktur/Saftkiste, bespoke installs, etc.) and the Titan solution, to me, was the best: Titan are UK based, the batteries are (marginally) smaller than the factory fitted AGM batteries (in the Ocean in any case, not sure about the Beach), the battery casing is compatible with the battery fixing/hold down clips already installed, it’s a drop-in installation, the capacity is massive and they are the cheapest (in the round).

I am planning to write up the solution I went with/my experience in a separate post but that is on the long finger until the weather forces me out of the van!

Very interesting!
Just to be clear: you have a written confirmation of Titan that their BMS can cope with the standard split-relay of VW without having to install a DC-DC charger, and it will not impact the performance of the battery?
Because this would really be a big difference financially in taking this step, knowing the price of a Victron Orion XS...

 

[arklife]

Evening Kemper-van,

I don't have anything in writing from them re my specific install but I did discuss it with Titan before I pushed the button on it and they were comfortable with it. Their batteries have been installed with split charge relays in other Cali's and I know of at least one other member who has done the same.

There is quite a lot of information on Titan's website, including about using their batteries with split charge relays. If you need more than that, it is worth reaching out to Chris at Titan for a chat.

Cheers.

 

[wildslammer22]

You can use the Max Charge switch on the T6.1 or switch on headlights or heated seats, all of which switch off the Smart Alternator 80% limit and goes to 100%, charging all batteries to 100%.

That’s interesting. I was always told by auto electricians that LIFEPO4 batteries can pull massive voltages that a split charge relay can’t regulate and this risks damaging the battery and or the alternator. It sounds like in the BMS is providing a layer of protection in the case of the Titan batteries, they are a respected brand so no reason to doubt it but I’m naturally sceptical.

 

[wildslammer22]

Evening Kemper-van,

I don't have anything in writing from them re my specific install but I did discuss it with Titan before I pushed the button on it and they were comfortable with it. Their batteries have been installed with split charge relays in other Cali's and I know of at least one other member who has done the same.

There is quite a lot of information on Titan's website, including about using their batteries with split charge relays. If you need more than that, it is worth reaching out to Chris at Titan for a chat.

Cheers.

Evening Kemper-van,

I don't have anything in writing from them re my specific install but I did discuss it with Titan before I pushed the button on it and they were comfortable with it. Their batteries have been installed with split charge relays in other Cali's and I know of at least one other member who has done the same.

There is quite a lot of information on Titan's website, including about using their batteries with split charge relays. If you need more than that, it is worth reaching out to Chris at Titan for a chat.

Cheers.

Their website does recommend a DC-DC charger but says a split relay can’t be used but isn’t optimal.

From their website -

“A standard split-charge relay does work, and many vans already have one, but it is not the most reliable way to charge lithium and some relays cause a backfeed that quietly skims around the top 15% off your usable capacity. Feeding straight off the alternator with no relay and no DC-DC is not something we recommend”

 

[Kemper-van]

Their website does recommend a DC-DC charger but says a split relay can’t be used but isn’t optimal.

From their website -

“A standard split-charge relay does work, and many vans already have one, but it is not the most reliable way to charge lithium and some relays cause a backfeed that quietly skims around the top 15% off your usable capacity. Feeding straight off the alternator with no relay and no DC-DC is not something we recommend”

Indeed, i went through the website as well and what you quote above is why I was asking the question if they approved using it without DC-DC charger installed. The website says it’s OK, but at the same time doesn’t really recommend it but also doesn’t say it cannot be done.

@arklife please keep us informed how you get along and how it keeps working. Interested to hear your real-life experience on this!