The Victron Orion-Tr Smart 24/12-20A is a galvanically isolated DC-DC battery charger that charges a 12V service battery from a 24V starter or house battery bank. It suits installers working on vehicles, vessels and off-grid systems where electrical isolation between battery banks is required.

Key features

• Isolation, galvanic isolation between input and output, removing shared ground between the two battery banks.
• Output, 240W continuous output at 20A on the 12V side.
• Bluetooth, built-in Bluetooth for configuration and monitoring via the VictronConnect app on iOS and Android.
• Engine detection, two-wire engine detection senses alternator output and switches between storage and absorption charge modes.
• Charge profiles, adaptive charging algorithm with configurable profiles for AGM, gel, lithium and other chemistries.
• Weight, 1.3 kg in a wall-mountable enclosure.

How it works

Input and output circuits share no common ground, which matters in dual-battery vehicle and marine installations where a shared ground can cause corrosion, interference or fault currents. The isolation also lets the unit step voltage down from 24V to 12V while keeping the two systems electrically independent.

The two-wire engine detection input charges at the programmed absorption or bulk rate while the alternator runs, then drops to a lower storage voltage once the engine stops, protecting the starter battery. Charge voltages, absorption time and tail current are all configurable in VictronConnect, and the built-in Bluetooth means no separate dongle is needed to commission or monitor the unit. It also works within the Victron VE.Direct ecosystem for larger monitoring setups.

Applications

• Dual-battery systems in campervans, motorhomes and HGVs with a 24V chassis and a 12V leisure bank.
• Marine installations needing galvanic isolation between the start battery and the service bank.
• Off-grid cabins and vehicles where a 24V primary bank feeds a 12V secondary system.
• Lithium battery upgrades needing a chemistry-specific charge profile.
• Vehicle conversions where ground loop elimination protects 12V electronics.

What's in the box

• 1 x Victron Orion-Tr Smart 24/12-20A (240W) Isolated DC-DC Charger

Installation notes

Fit this with correctly sized cable and fusing on both input and output sides. In marine installations, mount in a ventilated location away from water ingress and follow applicable wiring standards. The two-wire engine detection input must be wired to a switched 24V supply that is live only when the engine runs. Confirm lithium charge profiles against the battery manufacturer's specifications before commissioning.