General; Introduction; Features - Victron energy Orion XS 12/12-50A Manual

2. General

2.1. Introduction

The Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC battery charger (called Orion XS in this manual for convenience) can be used as a battery
charger or as a power supply with a wide input and output voltage range.
In charger mode, the four-stage charge algorithm will increase battery life by properly charging the battery.
Especially in the case of vehicles with a Euro 5 or 6 smart alternator, which often supplies charging voltage that is too low even
with the engine running or in the event of a voltage drop over long cables, controlled charging is crucial.
Controlled charging also protects the alternator in lithium systems from overloading, as the low impedance of lithium batteries
results in a high alternator current.
In power supply mode, the output voltage remains stable regardless of the applied load or fluctuating input voltage (within the
specified range).
The output voltage is fully adjustable and remains independent of the input voltage, thanks to the automatic buck-boost control.
This control also guarantees that the current will never exceed the set value, even when the input voltage is higher than the
output voltage.
The Orion XS can be set only to supply power when the engine is running. This is possible thanks to the integrated engine
shutdown detection. This eliminates the need to adjust in-vehicle wiring or add an engine detection sensor to determine if
charging can start. It also prevents the voltage on board the vehicle from getting too low. In addition to this detection, the Orion
XS can also be forced on via the remote on/off port.
The Orion XS is fully programmed and monitored using the
VictronConnect-Remote (VC-R) when connected to a GX device (requires a GX device connection to the
integrated VE.Direct port, monitoring via the GX Remote Console or from a PC, Apple computer with macOS or Android device
in conjunction with a VE.Direct to USB interface
monitoring with VictronConnect [15]

2.2. Features

Smart alternator compatibility
It is common for vehicle manufacturers to install "smart" ECU (Engine Control Unit) controlled alternators to increase fuel
efficiency and reduce emissions. Smart alternators provide variable output voltage and shut down when not needed. The Orion
XS has an integrated mechanism that detects whether the engine is running (engine shutdown detection), so the charger is only
activated when the alternator is supplying power. This ensures that the charger only draws power when the alternator supplies
power. See the Engine shutdown detection [12]
Separation of the starter battery and the service battery
The Orion XS separates the starter battery from the service battery.
Comprehensive electronic protection
The charger is protected against overtemperature (bottom plate >90 °C) by reducing the output power when the maximum
product temperature is reached.
• Protected against overload
• Protected against short circuit
• Protected against excessive temperatures
Adaptive charging in four stages
The Orion XS is configured by default for a four-stage charging process.
• Bulk — Absorption — Float — Storage
• Bulk
During this phase, the Orion XS supplies as much charging current as possible to quickly charge the batteries.
• Absorption
When the battery voltage reaches the absorption voltage setting, the charger switches to constant voltage aka absorption
mode. For lead-acid batteries, it is important that the absorption time is kept short during superficial discharges to avoid
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Manual - Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC battery charger
VictronConnect
and VictronConnect. Discover all setting and monitoring options in the
chapter and the VictronConnect
chapter for more information.
App. This also includes remote access via
manual.
VRM Portal) via the
Setup &
General