Which Victron Battery Charger Fits Your Setup?

Victron battery chargers for 120V shore or grid power come in three Blue Smart families, split mainly by how well they’re sealed: the IP22 for dry indoor spots, the IP65 for dusty or splash-prone areas, and the fully encapsulated IP67 for engine bays and boats. All three have Bluetooth, VictronConnect setup, a lithium mode and a storage mode. If you also need an inverter, a MultiPlus combines a charger and inverter in one unit.

Mobile Solar Consulting compares three Victron Blue Smart chargers.

Victron Battery Chargers Compared (120V Models)

Charger	12V models	24V models	Outputs	Cooling	Protection
Blue Smart IP22	15 / 20 / 30A	8 / 12 / 16A	1 or 3 isolated	Fan-assisted (not 12/15, 24/8)	IP22, indoors
Blue Smart IP65	5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 25A	—	1	Convection, no fan	IP65
Blue Smart IP67	7 / 13 / 17 / 25A	5 / 8 / 12A	1	Encapsulated in resin	IP67

Sources: Victron Blue Smart IP22 120V manual, Blue Smart IP65 120V manual, Blue Smart IP67 120VAC datasheet.

What Every Blue Smart Charger Shares

Charge modes: Normal (14.4V absorption), High (14.7V) and Li-ion (14.2V absorption, 13.5V float or storage) on 12V, plus custom settings in VictronConnect.
Storage mode after 24 hours without discharge, with a weekly refresh charge for lead-acid.
Low-current mode for small batteries.
Recovery of deeply discharged batteries, including lithium batteries whose BMS has disconnected them.
Power supply mode, for use as a fixed-voltage DC source.
About 0.5W no-load draw.

How to Pick One

Location. Dry cabinet: IP22. Garage floor or a damp spot: IP65. Engine bay, deck locker or anywhere it could get wet: IP67.
Current. A common rule of thumb is 10–20% of battery capacity for lead-acid. Lithium can take more, so check the battery’s datasheet. For example, Victron recommends 50A or less for its own 12.8V 100Ah battery.
Number of batteries. Only the IP22 offers a 3-output version, for a house bank plus starter and generator batteries.
Hot spaces. IP22 output derates above 40°C. The IP67 runs to 60°C but reduces current as it heats up.

Charge-rate figures are rules of thumb. Your battery’s datasheet is the real limit.

When a Charger Isn’t the Answer

Shore power plus an inverter: a MultiPlus-II charges at up to 120A (12/3000/120) and has a built-in transfer switch.
Charging from the alternator: use an Orion DC-DC charger.
Charging from solar: use a SmartSolar MPPT.

See the Blue Smart IP22, the Blue Smart IP65 and the Blue Smart IP67.

Worked Example: Overnight Charging a Van Battery

A van with a 12V 100Ah lithium battery at 20%, plugged in at a campsite with a Blue Smart IP22 12/30:

80Ah to replace at 30A takes a little under three hours, plus a short absorption phase (estimate).
Li-ion mode charges to 14.2V absorption and then holds 13.5V.
After 24 hours without discharge, the charger moves to storage mode, so it can stay plugged in for days.
At 30A, it’s well within Victron’s 50A or less recommendation for its own 12.8V 100Ah battery.

Worked Example: A Boat With Three Batteries

A sailboat with a house bank, a starter battery and a separate windlass battery, all on 12V:

The Blue Smart IP22 12/30 in its 3-output version charges all three from one shore connection, with isolated outputs so the batteries stay separate.
Mount it in a dry cabinet, since it’s IP22.
If the only space is a damp locker, two or three IP67 chargers, one per battery, are the alternative.

Worked Example: Winter Storage in a Garage

A classic car and a motorcycle stored over winter, each with a small lead-acid battery:

A Blue Smart IP65 12/5 on each battery handles a garage floor where dust and the odd splash are common.
Low-current mode suits small batteries.
Storage mode with a weekly refresh charge keeps lead-acid batteries healthy through months of inactivity.
At about 0.5W of no-load draw, each charger uses roughly 4kWh over a year if left plugged in with nothing to charge (estimate).

Worked Example: Engine Bay Install

A workboat with a 24V system and no dry space near the batteries suits a Blue Smart IP67 24/12. The resin-filled case handles spray and vibration, and it runs up to 60°C, gradually reducing current as it warms. In a hot engine room, expect a bit less than the full 12A on long charges (estimate).

Using Power Supply Mode

Power supply mode turns the charger into a fixed-voltage DC source, handy for running 12V devices on a workbench or keeping a system powered while a battery is out for service. Set the voltage in VictronConnect before connecting the load.

Setting Up in VictronConnect

Plug in the charger and open VictronConnect on your phone.
Pair over Bluetooth using the PIN shown in the manual.
Choose the charge mode, or build a custom profile from the battery maker’s voltages.
Turn on low-current mode for small batteries, or night mode for quieter operation.
On the IP22, join a VE.Smart network to synchronise with other chargers or use a Smart Battery Sense.

Matching Charger Current to Your Battery

Battery	Typical charger range
—	—
12V 20–50Ah lead-acid	5–10A
12V 100Ah lead-acid	10–20A
12V 100Ah lithium	Up to the battery’s limit, e.g. 30A
12V 200–300Ah lithium	30A or two chargers combined

Rules of thumb only. Your battery datasheet sets the real limit.

Charging Alongside Solar

Many vans and boats run a Blue Smart charger on shore power and a SmartSolar MPPT at the same time. Both can share data over VE.Smart networking with a Smart Battery Sense, so each charger sees the true battery voltage and temperature. That keeps charging accurate even with long cables.

FAQ

Are Victron chargers good for LiFePO4?

Yes. Every Blue Smart has a Li-ion mode and fully programmable voltages.

Can several chargers work together?

Yes. The IP22 can synchronize with up to ten chargers over VE.Smart networking.

Which is quietest?

The IP65 and IP67 have no fan. The IP22’s fan stays off in NIGHT or LOW mode.

Can I leave a Blue Smart charger connected all winter?

Yes. Storage mode and the weekly refresh are designed for long-term connection.

Do Blue Smart chargers work in 230V countries?

Victron sells separate 230V models. This guide covers the 120V versions for North America.

Can a Blue Smart charger revive a flat lithium battery?

Victron lists recovery of lithium batteries whose BMS has disconnected them, as long as the battery allows it.

Sources: Victron Blue Smart IP22 120V manual and datasheet, IP65 120V manual, IP67 120VAC datasheet, MultiPlus-II 120V datasheet (victronenergy.com, accessed Oct 2026); Mobile Solar Consulting.