Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30A DC-DC Isolated Charger - ORI121236120

The Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC charger is a professional DC to DC adaptive 3-stage charger with built-in Bluetooth.

For use in dual battery systems in vehicles where the alternator and the starter battery are used to charge the leisure battery. The unit can be monitored and programmed via Bluetooth and can be remotely controlled via a remote on/off switch and has an engine running detection mechanism.

The Orion-Tr Smart charger is suitable for both lead acid and lithium batteries.

• Input voltage range - 10-17V
• Under voltage shut down - 7V
• Under voltage restart - 7.5V
• Nominal output voltage - 12.2V
• Output voltage adjust range - 10-15V
• Cont. output current at nominal output voltage and 40 °C - 30A
• Cont. output power at 25 °C - 430W
• Cont. output power at 40 °C - 360W
• Efficiency - 87%
• No load input current - < 80 mA
• Standby current - Less than 1mA
• Galvanic isolation - 200 VDC between input, output and case
• DC connection - Screw terminals
• Maximum cable cross-section - 16 mm² AWG6
• Weight - 1.8 kg
• Dimensions - 130 x 186 x 80 mm
• Part Number - ORI121236120
• GTIN - 8719076047698

What's the difference between a Non-Isolated and an Isolated Victron Orion Tr-Smart?

The main difference between the Victron Orion-Tr Smart Isolated and Non-Isolated DC-DC chargers is how the negative (earth) connections are handled.

Both chargers perform the same basic function: charging a leisure battery from the vehicle's alternator or starter battery, but they are designed for different electrical installations.

Non-Isolated Victron Orion

The non-isolated version has a common negative connection between the starter battery and leisure battery.

This is ideal for most camper van conversions where both batteries use the vehicle chassis as their negative return.

Example: A VW Transporter with a starter battery and lithium leisure battery, both sharing the vehicle's chassis earth.

Isolated Victron Orion

The isolated version keeps the input and output negative connections electrically separate.

This allows the starter battery and leisure battery systems to use different negative connections without electrically joining them through the charger.

Example: A boat where the starter battery and domestic battery systems need to remain electrically isolated, or a specialist vehicle with separate earthing arrangements.

Which should you choose for a camper van?

For a typical camper van conversion, the Non-Isolated Orion-Tr Smart is usually the most suitable option, provided both battery systems share a common negative.

There is generally no charging performance advantage to using the isolated version.

However, an isolated charger can still be used in an installation with a common negative. It simply provides the option of keeping the two negative systems separate where required.

So in simple terms...

If both batteries share the vehicle's chassis earth, choose non-isolated. If the two electrical systems must remain electrically separate, choose isolated.