Victron EnergyOrion-XS Smart DC to DC Charger (Bluetooth) - Fully Configurable - Battery Charger for Dual Battery Systems - IP65 Dust & Waterproof - 12/12-Volt 50 amp 700-Watt

I have a 2022 Winnebago Micro Minnie FLX travel trailer with 570 Watts of Solar Panels and a 30-amp Solar Charger charging a single 320-amp LiFePo battery. Since I don’t have much of a footprint on the trailer roof for more solar panels, I decided to install a DC-to-DC Charger so my truck could charge the trailer house battery while I was driving, much like camper vans do with built in DC-to-DC Chargers. After doing hours of research and watching a lot of YouTube videos to find the best charger, I settled on the Victron Orion XS 50-amp DC-to-DC Charger. To say I’m extremely pleased with this Victron Charger would be a huge understatement. It has worked beyond my greatest expectations!One problem I did have to overcome was finding the best way to run the input wiring to the Charger from my 2022 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Diesel truck’s primary battery. I finally settled on using 175-amp Anderson connectors to provide the connection between the truck and the trailer and ran Spartan Power 2-AWG welding cables from the truck battery to the truck side Anderson connector and the same gauge cable from the trailer side Anderson connector to a Joinfworld Heavy Duty 400A Bus Bar Distribution Block near the Victron DC-to-DC charger. From the Distribution Block, I transitioned down to Spartan Power 4-AWG welding cable to make the final connection to the Victron charger. To provide further abrasion/heat protection for the positive and negative cables, I double jacketed both 2-AWG welding cables with 1 layer of GEARit 1-1/2” Heat Shrink Tubing and 1 layer of 1-3/8” Automotive Heat Shrink Braided Sleeving. I also incased the truck side Anderson connector in a Trailer Vision Anderson Connector Plug Cover surface mounting kit and the trailer side Anderson connector in a Trailer Vision Anderson Connector Cover Assembly to provide better dust/water protection. Finally, to provide proper circuit protection, I installed a BOJACK in-Line ANL Fuse Holder with 150-Amp Fuse for the positive cable from the truck battery and 2 Young Marine 60-Amp Circuit Breakers for the positive Input and Output of the Victron Charger.I highly recommend the Victron Orion XS 50-amp DC-to-DC Charger. It operates as advertised and the Victron Connect app makes it very easy to setup the charger for various batteries and battery manufacturer settings and to monitor the status of the charging while driving down the road. I’ve even used my truck to charge the battery while boondocking when the solar panels weren’t providing enough charge on very cloudy days. A very nice bonus!

Work like a high powered dream. Recommend buying!Victron + SOK Battery System Charging Path NarrativeThis document describes the wiring layout and rationale for each major charging component in a custom power system installed in a Ford Transit 250 High Roof EcoBoost van. The system includes two SOK SK12V314PH LiFePO4 batteries, a Victron MultiPlus 12/3000, a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30, two Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC chargers, and a Cerbo GX for centralized control and monitoring.1. Alternator Charging Path (DC-DC via Orion XS 50A Chargers)Source: Ford Transit 250's factory 175A Customer Connection Point (CPP).Cable: 15 feet of 2/0 AWG marine-grade cable is used to carry alternator current from the CPP to a protection and distribution system.Breaker: A Blue Sea 120A breaker protects this main charging input, limiting current to protect wiring and components downstream.Bus Bar: From the breaker, 2/0 AWG marine-grade cable continues to a Blue Sea 250A rated positive bus bar.Orion Input Wiring: Two 4 AWG marine-grade wires run from the 250A bus bar to the input terminals of each Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A charger.Grounding: The Orion XS units are grounded using 4 AWG marine-grade wire to a common Blue Sea negative bus bar.Orion Output Wiring: Each Orion’s output is protected with an 80A Blue Sea breaker. From each breaker, 4 AWG marine-grade wire connects the Orion’s output to a second positive bus bar.Purpose: This setup ensures safe, controlled DC-DC charging from the van alternator to the house battery bank. The Orion XS units are managed via DVCC and Ve.Direct Connect to the Cerbo GX, and configured to only turn on when alternator voltage rises above the engine-on threshold, preventing van battery drain.2. Solar Charging Path (SmartSolar MPPT 100/30)Controller: Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 connected to a solar array (not detailed here).Connection to System: The MPPT’s positive output wire connects to the same positive output bus bar used by the Orion chargers.Ground: MPPT negative output wire connects to the shared negative bus bar.Monitoring: MPPT is VE.Direct connected to the Cerbo GX, enabling DVCC and battery voltage/current telemetry.Purpose: Provides charging from solar independent of engine operation. Integrated into GX for full system coordination.3. Inverter/Charger Path (Victron MultiPlus 12/3000)Connection: The MultiPlus is wired directly to the main positive bus bar with 4/0 AWG marine-grade cable.Ground: The MultiPlus negative is wired to the main negative bus bar using 4/0 AWG marine-grade cable.30 Amp fused Shorpower link: Connected to the Inverter with 4/0 AWGDigital Multi-control: Connected to the Victon Cerbo GX with regular RJ45 allows inverter control from the cabinFunction: Provides both shore charging and AC inversion. Shore charging current is regulated via the Cerbo GX and DVCC in communication with the SOK BMS.Rationale: 4/0 AWG ensures low resistance paths for high current draw and charging currents.4. Battery Bank Wiring (SOK SK12V314PH Batteries)Configuration: Two SOK 314Ah LiFePO4 batteries connected in parallel.Wiring: Both batteries are connected to the positive bus bar with 4/0 AWG marine-grade cable. Similarly, both battery negatives are wired to the shared negative bus bar with 4/0 AWG.Monitoring: The SOK BMS communicates via CAN bus to the Cerbo GX, which centrally manages charge voltage and current limits across the system (Orions, MPPT, MultiPlus).5. Ventilation Fan Control (Temperature-Based)Fans: Two 12V DC fans are installed for compartment cooling.Control: Fans are triggered automatically using temperature relays configured in the Cerbo GX.Purpose: To protect sensitive components (batteries, inverter, DC-DC chargers) from heat buildup, especially during charging.This architecture prioritizes safety, alternator protection, smart BMS-based charging, and full integration with Victron GX for visibility and control. It balances high-capacity charging with efficient heat management and battery health longevity.

Used to convert Dodge 3500 camper to lifepo4. Amazing the amount of control for volts and amps. Works great, can't imagine anything better. Moved batteries inside under rear pass bed and mounted there. Only using 40 w charging per batteries spec and it didn't get warm. Only used it one time on a short trip so far. Don't know why equipment manufacturers don't make connections a little larger. Tight fit using 6awg and octagon ferrule crimper. Nice and compact.

Worked right out of the box. Asked me if I wanted to upgrade the firmware. It doesn’t really get much simpler than this. And I am able to charge my lithium batteries from my alternator. This also exposed the problem with my alternator making low-voltage, and so I replaced that and all kinds of other things got better. So this was actually a troubleshooting tool for me :-)

This charger works excellent. I have it connected to my truck to my 5th wheel. It gives me 50 amps of charge power while I'm traveling. Victron never disappoints. Be sure to use 4ga wire depending on the length of your run.

The media could not be loaded. This DC to DC charger has been a great addition to my setup. One of the things I appreciate most is how compact it is and it doesn’t take up much space and was easy to fit where I needed it. The design is straightforward and once installed, it works exactly as expected. Charging is efficient and reliable. My only gripe is with the instructions, they could definitely be clearer. It would be helpful if they were always easily accessible online since the included directions left a bit to be desired. That said, once you get past the initial setup, this is a solid little device that does its job well.