Mk8 dual batteries efb to agm

[Newcamperman]

Hi I have been on the site for a little while reading and getting useful tips but now I need a little help.
I have a
mk8 2015
2.2 rwd
twin batteries efb
Aux battery has died so I would like to upgrade to agm batteries as I’m converting it to a campervan.

My understanding is that the ford BEMM for my van says 95ah agm batteries but the the 2016.5 BEMM has both 80ah & 95ah agm batteries. The 80ah batteries would fit better.

Asked at my local ford garage who are not a transit centre and said they can’t help me. They also called another 1 of there dealerships which is a transit centre and there answer was if it didn’t come from the factory with agm batteries they wouldn’t be willing and couldn’t change them. No help.

[dumper]

Not sure on what to fit for the van side but if you are converting to a camper you don’t want to be running it off the van batteries you need a split charger and leisure batteries for it .

[Newcamperman]

Hi Dumper
Thanks for the reply it’s for the van side apparently agm batteries last longer and are safer than efb batteries. I have agm leisure batteries for the camper side

[dumper]

But is the cost difference enough to be a factor when I was pricing up new ones for mine they wear still only 5 year warranty and big difference in cost

[mcbutler]

Not sure on what to fit for the van side but if you are converting to a camper you don’t want to be running it off the van batteries you need a split charger and leisure batteries for it .

NO - you have a smart alternator and need a DC - DC charger not a split chare relay, this will not work properly at all with a smart alternator

[dumper]

Yes I should have put B2B changer but what I was saying don’t run the camper electrics off the van batteries I run a Sterling on mine but there is some here that have run with a split changer with no problems I’ve read a post here that if you earth out a wire on a plug under the seat it turns off the smart charge alternator and that’s what the professional camper builds do.

[Newcamperman]

Hi dumper
I can get (2) efb batteries for £179
(2) 95ah agm for£267
So not a big difference in price but would need a different battery tray so extra cost there.
(2) 80ah agm seems to be a shortage of them so £360 at the moment but no new tray needed.
Prices are for Varta batteries
But my problem is mainly getting access to ids or forscan to reprogram for agm and finding out if my van can use 80ah agm batteries in the bms but obviously my battery is dead so would need someone to check there 2015 2.2 rwd to see if 80ah agm is an option in bms.

[dumper]

When you think that the mk6 and a lot of mk7 s and customs run on a single battery setup I personally think the twin set is up-to the job and cannot justify the extra cost of changing to agm will they last more then 5 years and will you keep the van longer

[Newcamperman]

As it is a camper and as long as the van doesn’t rot too much I do plan on keeping it for as long as possible.
I have solar panel and mains charger for leisure batteries but no b2b or split charger. I did read somewhere that you can send a charge back to the van batteries so that if I’m my thinking is right then they should be agm too and I was thinking that if I do want to charge from van to leisure I wouldn’t need a Sterling charger or similar if the van was agm.
Do you know if I give my vin No: to someone with ids or forscan can they check my van for the battery set up obviously I don’t know if it needs to be connected to my van or if they can just access the info on there computer.

[dumper]

The Sterling can be set to change different battery types from lead acid to AGM my batteries are standard leisure ones 3 years now no problem

[TransitFlash]

BIt late to this party.. But I have just fitted a lithium battery and a BCDC charger to our motorhome ( see my post here...viewtopic.php?f=58&t=205534) but what I need to know before doing the final wiring is..... Does my 2011 MK7 have a "smart" alternator or not ? Is there a way of telling ? can anybody let me know ? cheers MS

[Newcamperman]

Not sure if there is a way to tell. I’m sure I read somewhere that the mk7 doesn’t have a smart alternator but can’t be 100% maybe you would be better asking in the mk7 forum.

[workbox]

Not sure if there is a way to tell. I’m sure I read somewhere that the mk7 doesn’t have a smart alternator but can’t be 100% maybe you would be better asking in the mk7 forum.

Regardless of smart alternator I would choose b2b charger vs split charger.
It charge more efficient especially when it comes to agm battery.

[workbox]

BIt late to this party.. But I have just fitted a lithium battery and a BCDC charger to our motorhome ( see my post here...viewtopic.php?f=58&t=205534) but what I need to know before doing the final wiring is..... Does my 2011 MK7 have a "smart" alternator or not ? Is there a way of telling ? can anybody let me know ? cheers MS

When being told I have smart alternator I didn't know how to deal with it. As result spend tons of money unnecessary.
Most of b2b charges works both with smart or conventional.
I end up having victron b2b none isolated charger.