Battery chargers

A battery charger connected to the 220 V mains supply is the charging source that ensures the battery bank is fully charged when solar power and the alternator are not sufficient. Whether in a camper van, on a boat, in an off-grid installation or as a backup system, it is the component that prevents a couple of cloudy days from leaving you without power.

Which charger do I need?
Two decisions: voltage and amperage.
The tension Your bank’s brand: 12V in motorhome and recreational boating, 24V in motorhomes and medium-sized facilities, 48V in a detached house.
The amperage It is estimated to be between 10 and 20 % of the battery’s capacity. For 200 Ah, this is between 20 and 40 A. With lithium, you can go higher without any problems because it can handle high currents; with lead-acid, it’s best not to exceed this limit.

Charging from the alternator: a mains charger won’t do
If you want to charge your device whilst driving, what you need is a DC-DC converter or booster, not a 220 V charger. The booster steps up the voltage from the alternator to the level required by the service battery and limits the current to prevent damage to the alternator – something that is essential with lithium battery packs and the smart alternators fitted to almost all vehicles since 2015.

The load profile matters more than the brand
Lithium, AGM, gel and open-type lead-acid batteries require different absorption and float voltages. Charging with the wrong profile won’t cause any immediate damage, but it means the battery won’t be fully charged and will significantly shorten its lifespan.
All the chargers we supply allow you to select the profile, and the Blue Smart range of Victron It does this via Bluetooth from a mobile phone, using a temperature sensor to adjust the tension between winter and summer.

Degree of protection according to use
In vehicles or boats, there is vibration, damp and salt: that’s where the IP65 and IP67 models come in. For a fixed installation inside a cabinet, an IP22 is sufficient and more economical.
If your system combines the mains, an alternator and solar panels, all three sources can be connected to the same battery bank provided they share the same load profile. Tell us about your system and we’ll advise you on which charger is right for you: free advice and dispatch within 24–48 hours.