Victron Energy Orion XS DC-DC Battery Charger, XS 12/12-50A, XS 12/12-70A, and XS 1400 Options for 12V or 24V Batteries

About the Orion XS DC-DC Charger The Orion XS replaces Victron's older Orion-Tr Smart series with a smaller, more efficient, and better-connected unit. It charges a house battery bank from a starter battery or other DC source using a fully programmable 4-stage adaptive charge algorithm. The circuit board is built on an aluminum substrate that doubles as the heat sink, spreading heat across the entire enclosure. This eliminates the need for a cooling fan while maintaining 98.5% peak efficiency. Full rated output holds to 104°F (40°C) ambient, with gradual derating above that. This is a non-isolated charger, meaning the input and output share a common ground. In most vehicle installations this simplifies wiring because you only need to run a positive cable from the starter battery to the Orion XS. The negative side connects through the vehicle chassis. Smart Alternator and Engine Detection Modern vehicles with smart alternators vary their output voltage based on engine load and fuel economy targets, often dropping below the voltage needed to charge a house battery. The Orion XS detects whether the engine is running and only activates when the alternator is supplying power. This prevents the charger from draining your starter battery when the engine is off. Input current is adjustable in 0.1A increments, so you can limit the draw to protect a factory alternator from overload. A general guideline is to keep DC-DC charging below 50% of the alternator's rated capacity. Bluetooth, VE.Direct, and System Integration The Orion XS connects to VictronConnect over Bluetooth for monitoring, configuration, and firmware updates. The VE.Direct port provides a wired connection to a Cerbo GX or other GX device, enabling real-time monitoring on VRM and full DVCC participation. With DVCC enabled, the Cerbo coordinates the Orion XS alongside solar controllers and inverter/chargers as part of a single managed charging system, honoring BMS current limits and shared voltage/temperature sensing. VE.Smart Networking adds wireless voltage and temperature compensation from a SmartShunt or Smart Battery Sense, adjusting charge parameters based on conditions at the battery rather than at the charger terminals. Remote On/Off and BMS Integration A dedicated remote on/off terminal lets you wire the Orion XS to an ignition switch, a BMS allow-to-charge signal, or any other external trigger. When multiple units are paralleled, Victron recommends using a controlled signal on the remote on/off terminal rather than engine detection alone, to ensure all units activate simultaneously. Paralleling for Higher Output An unlimited number of Orion XS units can be connected in parallel for increased charge current. Two units on a 12V system deliver 100A. This modular approach lets you scale charging capacity to match your battery bank and alternator without replacing hardware.