Victron Orion XS firmware 1.15 – new function for charging the starter battery from the consumption bank

Victron has released firmware version 1.15 for the entire Orion XS range, introducing a long-awaited feature that can be invaluable when the starter battery fails. With the new Emergency Reverse Charge feature, the Orion XS can temporarily reverse the charging direction and charge a discharged starter battery directly from the utility bank.

For many boat owners, this means extra peace of mind if the starter battery for some reason becomes too weak to crank the engine. Instead of having to use jump leads or an external charger, charging can now be started directly from the VictronConnect app.

What is Emergency Reverse Charge?

Normally, Orion XS is used to charge the consumption bank from the starter battery or generator while driving. With firmware 1.15, Orion XS gets a whole new possibility.

When the function is activated, the device can instead use the energy in the consumption bank to charge the starter battery. The Orion XS temporarily reverses the energy flow to give the starter battery enough capacity to start the engine again.

According to Victron, this is also the first of several planned reverse charging features in the Orion XS series.

How does the feature work?

Emergency Reverse Charge is started directly from VictronConnect by pressing the new engine start icon on the status screen. The feature requires VictronConnect version 6.43 or later.

When the function is activated:

1. Orion XS charges the starter battery for 15 minutes.
2. After that, charging will stop automatically.
3. A 5-minute rest period follows.
4. During the rest period, a new start attempt can be made.

The setup is designed to quickly restore sufficient voltage to the starter battery without risking unnecessary load on the system.

Which models get the feature?

Firmware 1.15 applies to the entire Orion XS family:

• Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A
• Victron Orion XS 12/12-70A
• Victron Orion XS 1400

All models will receive support for Emergency Reverse Charge after updating to firmware 1.15.

Important limitations to know

The function is only available when the normal forward charging is not active.

This means, among other things, that:

• The generator is not charging.
• Engine shutdown has been detected.
• The input voltage is below the set allowable levels.

An interesting detail is that the feature also works when the Orion XS is set to Remote Off mode , which means it can still be used in installations where the remote shutdown is used to stop regular charging.

How much charge can you get?

Orion XS charges the starter battery up to maximum:

• 14.4 V for 12-volt systems
• 28.8 V for 24-volt system on Orion XS 1400

The maximum charging current during reverse charging is limited to the lowest of:

• Set current limit
• Half the unit's rated current

Additionally, the Orion XS monitors the voltage of the utility bank and reduces the charging current if the auxiliary battery voltage begins to drop too much. This protects the bank used to assist the starter battery.

Additional feature for Orion XS 1400

The multi-voltage Orion XS 1400 also gets a new setting where the user can choose whether the starter battery is:

• 12V
• 24 V

The setting is made in the product settings and if it is not preset, VictronConnect will ask for the correct battery voltage the first time the function is used.

Particularly interesting for boat owners

For many marine installations, the Orion XS sits between the starter bank and the utility bank. Previously, a separate emergency switch or battery bridge function was often needed to handle a discharged starter battery.

With firmware 1.15, many installations will instead receive a software-based solution that can be activated directly from the mobile phone. This reduces the need for additional equipment and provides additional redundancy on board. Although the feature does not replace a well-maintained electrical system, it is a very welcome addition for both long-distance and recreational boats. (This is an assessment based on the area of use of the feature and not a statement from Victron.)

Summary

Victron continues to develop the Orion XS series with practical features for real-world use situations. With firmware 1.15, users have the smart and easy option to charge a discharged starter battery from the utility bank directly via VictronConnect.

For those of you who already use an Orion XS, this is an update that is definitely worth installing, especially if the boat is used for longer trips where extra safety margins are valuable.