In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
Victron Orion DC-DC converters are the plain voltage converters in Victron’s Orion family. They’re not battery chargers with a charge algorithm like the Orion XS or Orion-Tr Smart. Instead, they turn 24V or 48V into 12V, or 12V into 24V, to run equipment or buffer-charge a battery. Here’s what Victron’s datasheet for the high-power, non-isolated […]
Victron Lithium NG batteries are Victron’s newest LiFePO4 batteries, in 12.8V, 25.6V and 51.2V sizes. They don’t have a built-in BMS. Instead, each battery reports cell data to an external Victron NG BMS, which you have to buy separately. Here’s what Victron’s Lithium NG datasheet says, and what that BMS requirement means for your build. […]
Using a Victron Blue Smart charger power supply setup is handy when you need steady 12V on the bench, want to run a van’s DC loads from shore power during a build, or need to power a system while the battery is out. Victron supports this officially. The Blue Smart IP65 manual describes a dedicated […]
This Victron Blue Smart IP67 charger review covers Victron’s fully waterproof battery charger. It’s built to be mounted permanently in a boat, a trailer or a machine that lives outside. It has the same Bluetooth app control as the other Blue Smart chargers, in a sealed cast-aluminum case. All the specs here come from Victron’s […]
A Victron Ford Pro Power Onboard setup uses the truck’s built-in generator outlets to feed a Victron charger or inverter/charger, instead of (or alongside) a DC-DC charger off the alternator. It works for truck campers and parked camps, with one Ford warning to know first. All Ford figures below come from Ford’s own Pro Power […]
Victron Phoenix Inverter Smart vs VE.Direct is really a question of size and features. The VE.Direct range covers small loads from 250W to 1,600W. The Phoenix Smart starts at 1,600VA and goes up to 5,000VA, adds built-in Bluetooth, and draws even less power at idle. Here’s the comparison, using Victron’s datasheets. Victron Phoenix Inverter Smart […]
The Victron Quattro-II is the newer, lighter member of Victron’s dual-input inverter/charger family. The classic Quattro goes up to 10kVA and beyond. The Quattro-II 2x120V is a compact 3kVA unit built for North American split-phase RVs and boats. Here’s how they compare, using Victron’s 120V datasheets. Victron Quattro-II vs Quattro: Specs Quattro-II 12/3000/120-50 2x120V Quattro […]
The Victron SmartSolar MPPT 250/100 and its smaller sibling, the 250/85, are Victron’s biggest standard solar charge controllers. They’re built for large arrays wired in long, high-voltage strings. The 250V input lets you put more panels in series, which keeps PV cable thin over long runs. Here’s what they offer, from Victron’s datasheet for the […]
The Victron BMV-700 and BMV-702 are Victron’s wired battery monitors: a round display connected to a 500A shunt, showing state of charge, time-to-go, current and power. They’re the older siblings of the BMV-712 Smart, and the main difference is Bluetooth. Here’s what Victron’s BMV-700 series datasheet says. Victron BMV-700 and BMV-702: Specs BMV-700 BMV-702 BMV-700H […]
This review of the Victron Lynx Power In and Lynx Class-T Power In covers the two modules that bring battery power into a Lynx DC distribution system. They look almost the same, but they do different jobs. The Lynx Power In is a plain busbar. The Lynx Class-T Power In adds Class-T fuses for lithium […]
