Orion XS Firmware v1.15: Emergency Reverse Charge Explained

What is new in Orion XS firmware v1.15

An Orion XS normally moves energy one way: from the starter battery and alternator into your auxiliary battery. Version 1.15 lets it run the other way when you ask it to. The charger temporarily reverses its charge direction and uses the auxiliary battery to top up the starter battery.

For a campervan, motorhome, boat or van conversion, that means a healthy leisure bank can get a flat engine battery turning again, with no jump leads and no second vehicle. Victron describes it as the first of several reverse charging features planned for the Orion XS range.

Which Orion XS models get the update

If you have set a lower current limit in VictronConnect, the lower figure applies. The Orion-Tr Smart chargers are not part of this update; Victron's announcement covers the Orion XS range only.

How to use the emergency reverse charge

1. Update first. Install firmware v1.15 on the Orion XS and make sure VictronConnect is on v6.43 or later. Do this now, not on the day the battery is flat.
2. Open VictronConnect and connect to the Orion XS.
3. Tap the engine icon on the Status screen. It is new in this version.
4. Confirm and press START. The Orion XS charges the starter battery from the auxiliary battery for 15 minutes.
5. Crank the engine during the settling period. After the 15 minutes the charger switches off for 5 minutes, and that is your window to start the engine.

Changed your mind? Tap the engine icon again and confirm STOP. The settling period is skipped.

When the option is available

The engine icon only works once the Orion XS has stopped charging forwards. That happens in two situations:

• The input voltage lockout is active, which is exactly what you expect with a flat starter battery.
• The Orion XS has detected that the engine is off.

It also works when the unit is in the remote-off state. So if your remote-off wire is there to stop forward charging, it will not get in the way of an emergency start.

The limits that protect your batteries

• Starter battery voltage is capped at 14.4V, or 28.8V for a 24V starter battery on the Orion XS 1400.
• Current is capped at your configured limit or half the rated current of the unit, whichever is lower.
• The auxiliary battery is protected. The Orion XS cuts the reverse charge current if the auxiliary battery voltage drops too far. On the 12/12 models, Victron's manual says it holds the auxiliary battery at 12V so it is not deep discharged.

Orion XS 1400: choose a 12V or 24V starter battery

The Orion XS 1400 is multi-voltage, so it needs to know what it is charging. Firmware v1.15 adds a setting to select a 12V or 24V starter battery. You can set it in advance under Product Settings in VictronConnect. If you do not, the app asks you the first time you use the feature, and a roadside is not the best place to be answering that question.

How to install the Orion XS v1.15 update

1. VictronConnect app. Connect to the Orion XS and the app offers the new firmware. This is the route most owners will use.
2. VRM Portal. If the Orion XS is connected to a GX device on VRM, you can update it remotely without being next to it.
3. Victron Professional. Installers can download the firmware file from Victron Professional and its linked Dropbox folder.

For the full detail, Victron's Orion XS manual covers the reverse charge function step by step.

Common questions

Is the emergency reverse charge automatic?

No. You start it yourself from the VictronConnect app. The Orion XS never reverses on its own.

Will it flatten my leisure battery?

It is designed not to. The charger reduces the reverse current as the auxiliary battery voltage falls, and on the 12/12 models it holds the auxiliary battery at 12V.

Why can I not see the engine icon?

Check three things: the Orion XS is on firmware v1.15 or later, VictronConnect is on v6.43 or later, and the Orion XS has stopped charging forwards, either because the input voltage lockout is active or because it has detected the engine is off.

Do I need a GX device or VRM?

No. The VictronConnect app on your phone is enough to update the firmware and start a reverse charge. VRM is only needed if you want to update the unit remotely.

Does it work on the Orion-Tr Smart?

No. Firmware v1.15 is for the Orion XS range: the 12/12-50A, the 12/12-70A and the 1400.

Can I stop it early?

Yes. Tap the engine icon again and confirm STOP. The 5 minute settling period is skipped.

Orion XS chargers in stock

Based on Victron Energy's Orion XS firmware v1.15 announcement and the Orion XS manual, September 2026. Firmware behaviour can change in later versions, so check the current manual before relying on a figure. This is general information, not installation advice.