Victron Energy has released firmware version 1.15 for the Orion XS battery-to-battery charger line, introducing an emergency reverse charge feature designed to assist depleted starter batteries. The function temporarily reverses the traditional DC-DC power flow, allowing the service battery bank to replenish the starter battery. Triggered through the VictronConnect app or VRM portal, the charger runs in reverse for 15 minutes before pausing for five minutes to allow an engine start attempt.
Reverse charging operates only after primary forward charging has stopped, functioning even when remote-off status is active. Safety parameters cap the current to either the programmed limit or half of the device’s rated output, whichever is lower, while automatically reducing current if service battery voltage drops too far. System configuration requires selecting 12 V or 24 V starter voltage prior to initial use on multi-voltage units to maintain proper voltage caps during the recovery cycle.
- Firmware requirement: Version 1.15 (requires VictronConnect app v6.43 or higher)
- Supported hardware: Orion XS 12/12-50, 12/12-70, and Orion XS 1400
- Charge cycle: 15-minute active charge followed by a 5-minute engine start window
- Current limit: Lower of user-configured current or 50% of rated capacity
- Maximum charge voltage: 14.4 V (12 V systems) / 28.8 V (24 V systems)
- Activation method: VictronConnect app or VRM portal
