In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
How much do solar panels cost for a house? The best public data comes from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), which tracks hundreds of thousands of real installs. Its October 2025 update covers systems installed in 2024. Here are those numbers, what they mean for a typical home in 2026, and why quotes vary so […]
Want the full 50A from your Orion XS? If your Victron Orion XS is not charging full amps, the reason is usually simple to find and fix, and it’s one of the most frequently asked Orion questions. Victron’s Orion XS manual lists the exact reasons the output can be lower than expected. Here they are, […]
The VictronConnect app is the free tool you use to set up, monitor and update almost every Victron product. It’s how you program a SmartSolar charge controller, check a SmartShunt’s state of charge, or change a Blue Smart charger’s profile. If you own any Victron gear, you’ll use it. Here’s what Victron says it does […]
The Victron VE.Bus Smart dongle, the VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle and the MK3-USB interface fill the gap for Victron products without built-in Bluetooth. They connect older or non-Smart gear to the VictronConnect app. They look similar but work with different ports, so buying the wrong one is a common mistake. Here’s which one you need. […]
The Victron Blue Smart IP22 3 outputs question comes up under almost every video about this charger. If it’s a 30A charger, does each output get 30A, or is it split three ways? And how does it know when one battery is full? Victron’s manual answers both, and the answer changes how you should wire […]
The Victron Autotransformer does three jobs: it steps voltage up, steps it down, and balances split-phase loads. The last one is what interests most RV, boat and off-grid owners. With a MultiPlus-II, it can also create 120/240V split-phase from a single 120V inverter, as the MultiPlus-II manual notes. Here’s how it works, using Victron’s own […]
The Victron Filax 2 and the VE Transfer Switch both switch your loads automatically between two AC sources, such as shore power and an inverter or a generator and an inverter. They’re built for different jobs, though. The Filax 2 is ultra-fast and made for sensitive electronics. The VE Transfer Switch handles more current and […]
The Victron EV Charging Station is a wall charger for electric vehicles that ties into a Victron energy system. Its big feature is solar integration: paired with a GX device, it can charge your car from surplus solar instead of the grid. Before you get excited in North America, check the plug and voltage. Here’s […]
Picking the right Victron products for boats comes down to three jobs: keep shore power safe, charge every battery bank, and know what’s happening on board. Victron started in marine power, and its range still shows it. Here are our picks for each job, with the official specs that matter. All facts come from Victron’s […]
The Victron galvanic isolator is a small, sealed box that protects your boat’s underwater metal from electrolytic corrosion. When you plug into shore power, the shore earth wire connects your boat to every other boat on the dock. Low-voltage DC currents can flow along that wire and eat away at your hull, propeller and shaft. […]
