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Upgrading 1995 EVC to Deep Cycle Lithium 230ah battery help
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maitz
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Joined: August 09, 2025
Posts: 1
Location: Niagara falls Ontario
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 4:38 pm    Post subject: Upgrading 1995 EVC to Deep Cycle Lithium 230ah battery help Reply with quote

Hello All,
Have a 1995 Camper with 5 cyl 2.4 diesel engine. Car has no AC.
Hoping to be able to install a 230AH lithium battery for the camper end of the car(not engine). I am wondering if this is plug and play or there are any mods I need to do. I ask this because back in 1995 there were no Lithium batteries. I suspect that the car electrical such inverters/controllers etc are designed for AGM or liquid acid batteries.
Will I be facing safety issues such as battery overheating/blowing up, or causing damage to the battery or vehicle wiring?
The battery I have in mind is LiTime 12V 230ah. Battery does have a number of cut-off protection but not sure if that is enough.
https://ca.litime.com/products/12v-230ah-bluetooth-lithium-rv-battery
Appreciate any insight you may have.

Im new to the forum but excited to have found it!

Thank you
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krusovice
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Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 305
Location: Duluth, MN
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 8:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading 1995 EVC to Deep Cycle Lithium 230ah battery help Reply with quote

It is not just plug and play. If your 95 remains stock, it has 2 systems to charge the house battery.

1. There is a combiner mounted on the firewall (a solenoid). When the engine is running, it completes a circuit and allows the alternator to charge both batteries.

2. There is an AC to DC charger mounted behind the fuse panel in the back left of the van. When plugged in to shore power (110 ac using the port on the driver's side of the van), this charges the house battery as well as powering the 110v outlets in the van (including the fridge if you select 110v on it).

In theory, the battery maintenance system (BMS) on your battery (assuming it has one) will protect the battery while using either of these. But there are a lot of reasons not to trust it.

I would NOT recommend using either of those chargers. (The stock AC to DC charger is crap and won't get the modern battery full, the combiner is just a dumb switch and can put a lot of stress on your alternator just to name 2 reasons).

There are lots of threads about people upgrading their electronics. Here is mine (though I didn't install a lithium battery yet, I did future proof it so I can).

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=798552&highlight=

I'm happy with my Victron DC to DC charger.

Good luck. Read lots, and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions (I sure have !).
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1984 Vanagon 1.9/4 speed
2001 Eurovan Camper
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krusovice
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Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 305
Location: Duluth, MN
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 8:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Upgrading 1995 EVC to Deep Cycle Lithium 230ah battery help Reply with quote

Also, I just realized your camper might be a Canadian unit. My comments about the existing chargers could be wrong, but the theory is correct. Get something modern. (And put your van in your signature...the Canadian units could be a Westfalia rather than a Winnebago conversion...that will make a difference to some answers.)

Welcome to the looney bin...you don't have to be crazy to own one of these, but it might help. Smile
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1984 Vanagon 1.9/4 speed
2001 Eurovan Camper
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