Installation report: 2x 100Ah Supervolt lithium battery in the Niesmann + Bischoff Arto 64 GL motorhome
Installation report of 2x 100 Ah LiFePO4 batteries in the Niesmann + Bischoff Arto 64 GL, EZ 2013, which was provided to us by our customer.
Guest article: Installation report on LiFePO4 batteries in the Niesmann + Bischoff Arto 64 GL
Our customer provided us with a field report on the installation of 2x 100 Ah LiFePO4 batteries in his Niesmann+Bischoff Arto 64 GL (first registered in 2013). In this article, we show the details of the installation, the advantages of the new power supply and what to look out for when converting.
Table of contents
Vehicle and electrical equipment
Niesmann + Bischoff Arto 64 GL, EZ 2013
- Electronics are standard CBE with 15 ampere mains charger
- Solar system 400 Watt with MPP controller 350
- Charging booster limited to 50 amps (max. 70 amps possible)
Removing the old batteries
Two Exide Gel batteries with 85Ah each, weight 61 kg, were removed.
In this vehicle, the batteries are located in the heated intermediate floor in the entrance area, accessible through a hatch. The shore power supply was previously removed. Solar was not in operation as the vehicle is parked in the garage.
Otherwise, the solar system must of course also be disconnected electrically and all consumers switched off before the conversion.
The batteries are secured by stops screwed into the floor and a strap. First the negative terminal was disconnected, then the positive terminal and, after removing all cables and the retaining strap, the batteries were removed.
Preparing the cabling
Due to the retrofitting of the solar regulator, charging booster and hydraulic supports, various cables had accumulated on the battery connections.
These connections were laid on retrofitted busbars for the positive and negative supply. The aim was to have only the cables for parallel connection and the main connection on the new batteries. Only the 3 temperature sensors from the charger, solar controller and charge booster are then added.
Note:
With the introduction of our new battery series at the beginning of October 2025, the POLAR series models no longer have RJ45 interfaces to external devices (e.g. Victron, Truma iNet, etc.), as these are not required by all users.
Due to the elimination of these interfaces, we can no longer offer the SE seriesat a lower price with immediate effect.
The PRO series however, still has the corresponding interfaces.
>> Discover our LiFePO4 batteries from the SE series directly in the online store <<
Installing the first new fully charged battery
Both batteries are switched off using the RJ 45 plug supplied.
The button is then pressed in. Place the cable on the battery so that it does not interfere with installation.
The bolted base stops are offset in accordance with the new smaller dimensions of the batteries. Versions with two additional M6 threads are used as pole shoes.
As one of the batteries is pushed under the floor, the
pole terminals are attached here first and the cables for the parallel connection are screwed to the M6 connections.
The battery is then pushed under the floor.
The M8 threads in the battery terminals remain free for the main connections.
Installing the second battery
The second battery is placed flush in front of the one already inserted and the
cables for the parallel connection are screwed together with M6 as usual.
The temperature sensors are also screwed onto the M6 connections.
I do not know whether there is a preferred pole for LiFePO as there is for lead batteries. However, this can be changed at any time.
The batteries are then locked in place with the existing tensioning strap.
Connecting the main cable
Surprise for me: the connections on the previous gel batteries are reversed, so the positive cable was too short and had to be replaced with a longer one. The negative cable is very long and is sufficient.
The technology for measuring the current is located in the negative cable in front of the batteries.
First screw the positive cable to the rear (under the floor) battery at the terminal with M8.
As the negative pole has not been connected so far, there is no risk of touching the supporting metal structure of the floor and the batteries are switched off anyway.
The negative terminal is then located on the front battery and is easily accessible for the subsequent screw connection with the M8 connection of the round terminal.
Conversion of the battery suppliers
The existing charger does not have a LiFePO4 setting and is therefore set to Gel.
The charging booster is set to the recommended LifePo setting of 14.6 / 13.8 volts.
After talking to Supervolt, the older solar controller is set to 14.4 / 13.8 volts, as there is no 14.6 / 13.8 volt setting.
Conclusion: Installing LiFePO4 batteries in motorhomes
This completes everything and the batteries are activated with the RJ 45 switch.
All functions such as the voltage and current display of the CBE panel work as usual and the buffering of the starter battery is also displayed.
👉 Click here to access our LiFePO4 batteries from the SE series in the online store
Acknowledgments
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customer for the very well-described report! By publishing these instructions, we hope to be able to help you replace AGM batteries with our lithium batteries in the Niesmann + Bischoff Arto 64 GL.
With the new battery, nothing stands in the way of your next vacation. We wish you a safe journey and unforgettable trips.
If you are also planning to convert your vehicle yourself, please write to us ([email protected]). We will be happy to give you a discount on the purchase of your battery for a report.
Supervolt LiFePO4 batteries and accessories
You can find all our LiFePO4 batteries in our store. Whether for motorhomes, boats or solar systems – our batteries can be used anywhere. Suitable installation accessories such as solar regulators, charge boosters and inverters are also available directly from us.
