The Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/20 is a single-output mains charger for 12V lead-acid and lithium battery banks. It plugs straight into a UK BS 1363 socket and has Bluetooth built in, so it can be monitored and configured from the VictronConnect app rather than through dip switches or a separate dongle.

Key features

• Charge current, 20A output for 12V battery banks, delivered through a single output
• Bluetooth, built in, for live status and configuration via VictronConnect on iOS and Android
• Enclosure rating, IP22, suited to engine bays, vans and boats where some damp exposure is possible but not direct spray
• Battery compatibility, AGM, Gel, flooded lead-acid and lithium (LiFePO4), with selectable charge profiles
• Charging algorithm, seven-stage adaptive process with battery conditioning and storage mode
• Weight, 1.3 kg

How it charges

The seven stages take the battery through bulk, absorption and float, then hold it in storage mode so it stays at a safe charge level without overcharging. A periodic conditioning pulse helps recover stratified or lightly sulphated lead-acid cells. Lithium banks get their own LiFePO4 profile, selected in the app rather than fixed at the factory.

Bluetooth and monitoring

Because the Bluetooth radio is inside the charger itself, there's nothing extra to fit. VictronConnect shows charge status in real time and lets you set current limits or review history, which matters when the charger ends up somewhere awkward to reach once installed.

Applications

It suits leisure batteries in campervans and motorhomes, shore-power charging on boats and narrowboats, workshop maintenance charging for stored vehicles, and fixed charging in off-grid cabins or outbuildings with a 230V supply. The IP22 rating covers sheltered but potentially damp locations; it isn't for direct rain or submersion.

What's in the box

• Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/20 charger, one output
• UK BS 1363 mains plug, factory fitted