Leisure Batterie

[milfredo]

What size can I comfortably fit in the back? I have one already but it is backwards and a bitch to remove to read the specs. I killed it last year so was looking to maybe upgrade.

 

[Russell1972]

I've got this in the left hand side of the engine bay.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/leisure-batteries/numax/xv31mf/

Bit of a fiddle to get in, but that's more to do with the weight. It also doesn't interfere with the spare wheel well.

 

[Wannabay]

I upgraded to a lithium Bluetooth 105ah Fogstar drift last year, half the weight of lead acid, slightly smaller, terminals right way round and the app allows you to monitor condition volts, ah, temp, dis/charging rate, no more having to guess will it last the weekend/festival/camping trip………

 

[Ka1dza]

What size can I comfortably fit in the back? I have one already but it is backwards and a bitch to remove to read the specs. I killed it last year so was looking to maybe upgrade.

I just installed one in my bus. I got the same size as the other one. I’m putting together a circuit so that when the leisure battery runs down while camping the main battery charges it. The leisure battery doesn’t take anything away from the main one until the engine is running.

 

[pgtips]

Off the shelf Halfords 100ah batteries fit. The old lead acid ones are heavy so I've got some cut down laminate flooring plank to slide it in and out ( free sample from b&q)

I then dabbled and built a 105ah lithium and liked it. Like @Wannabay said, much lighter and you can see it's use on your phone.

I posted a "how to build" originally on the samba (my bus was a US import so that's where I started off) . I'll find the link and add it. It might already be posted in this forum somewhere.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10212399

Last year I went completely nuts and built a 300ah lithium. It's rizzla paper tight fit but I got it in.

Pg

 

[milfredo]

I upgraded to a lithium Bluetooth 105ah Fogstar drift last year, half the weight of lead acid, slightly smaller, terminals right way round and the app allows you to monitor condition volts, ah, temp, dis/charging rate, no more having to guess will it last the weekend/festival/camping trip………

Lithium would be nice but it means rewiring the bus and my external hookup which currently charges the lead battery. Also, I have a voltage readout in the camper which is pretty good at monitoring. I have no heavy usage items apart from the stereo to its enough to keep phones charged etc.

 

[milfredo]

How does one manage the charging of the Lithium batteries vs a split charge?

Would one of these be used in place of the relay: https://climatebiz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Orion-Tr-Smart-system-schematic-1024x838.png

An then one of these for charging off the mains: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5ZgAAOSwCMRcnZ6o/s-l1600.jpg

What about if you then want to connect a solar panel on random weekends?

 

['77 westy]

To charge the 176Ah LiFePo4 Battery cells I have an OLYS BS123020 combined B2B and MPPT charge controller (30amp B2B or 20amp solar). https://www.olyssolar.com/product_Info-37-50.html plus two 120W ETFE shingle construction solar panels (NLA) from Solar Power Supply https://solarpowersupply.eu/solar-power-supply-120w-shingle-flexible-solar-panel
I also have a mains battery charger but I seldom use it.

 

[pgtips]

Hi @milfredo

"does one manage the charging of the Lithium batteries vs a split charge?"

It's not a split charge the same as you might be used to but a battery to battery also called DC to DC charger.
Similar but different. If you want to keep your old split charge you can't go lithium.

Little else changes, no need to rewire bar taking out split charge system and wiring in dc2dc.

But, if you read my post link to the samba, it's pricey for the bits that go around having the battery. Have a read of it you'll see everything laid out.

If your mainly weekend camping then I'd go lithium battery, home built, and buy a mains lithium battery charger. Say for weekends anything up from 100, maybe a 180 or 200ah is plenty.
Charge up before you go and use it then charge up again when you get home. They have phone app monitoring so you can see usage.
The beauty of lithium is a much longer power curve and unbelievably fast charging.

If you/anyone can't access the link let me know, I'm more then happy to help, I'll see if I can copy and paste it into EB

Pg

 

[milfredo]

Hi @milfredo

"does one manage the charging of the Lithium batteries vs a split charge?"

It's not a split charge the same as you might be used to but a battery to battery also called DC to DC charger.
Similar but different. If you want to keep your old split charge you can't go lithium.

Little else changes, no need to rewire bar taking out split charge system and wiring in dc2dc.

But, if you read my post link to the samba, it's pricey for the bits that go around having the battery. Have a read of it you'll see everything laid out.

If your mainly weekend camping then I'd go lithium battery, home built, and buy a mains lithium battery charger. Say for weekends anything up from 100, maybe a 180 or 200ah is plenty.
Charge up before you go and use it then charge up again when you get home. They have phone app monitoring so you can see usage.
The beauty of lithium is a much longer power curve and unbelievably fast charging.

If you/anyone can't access the link let me know, I'm more then happy to help, I'll see if I can copy and paste it into EB

Pg

I will give it a read! Thanks v much