Battery Chargers

The rule of thumb: aim for a MINIMUM of 10% of your battery bank's amp-hour capacity. A 100Ah battery wants at least a 10A charger; a 200Ah bank at least 20A. For AGM and GEL, 10-20% is the sweet spot — enough to charge properly without stressing the battery (check your battery's manual for its maximum). Lithium can accept much faster charging — often 50% of capacity or more — so for lithium, size the charger to how fast you want to be recharged, up to the battery's stated maximum charge current. One more thing people forget: if you'll run loads while charging (fridge, lights), add those amps on top, otherwise the loads eat the charge. Examples: 100Ah AGM — 10-20A charger. 200Ah AGM — 20-30A. 100Ah lithium — 15-30A charges in 3-6 hours, and it will happily take 50A if you want it faster.

Victron Energy's limited warranty is 5 years from purchase on power products — inverters, inverter/chargers, chargers, MPPTs, monitors, GX devices, DC-DC and accessories. Exceptions: Victron lead-acid batteries 2 years and Victron lithium batteries 3 years, and battery claims require proof of correct usage and charging. Victron offers an extension to 10 years for a 10% surcharge, applied for before the original term ends. Claims go through us as your dealer — email your invoice, serial number and a fault description and we handle it. In addition to your Australian Consumer Law rights. Official policy: https://www.victronenergy.com/support/warranty-and-repairs

With a smart multi-stage charger, yes — that's what it's designed for. After charging it drops to float or storage voltage, holding the battery full without overcharging, and periodically refreshes it. Ideal for boats and vans in storage. What you must NOT leave connected is an old-style fixed-voltage trickle charger — those slowly overcharge and destroy batteries. Every charger we stock is a smart multi-stage unit.

Usually yes — and because lithium gives you 80-100% usable capacity versus roughly 50% for AGM, a 100Ah lithium replaces about 200Ah of AGM at a third of the weight. Three checks before you swap: (1) Every charge source needs a lithium profile — your 240V charger, MPPT and inverter/charger must be set (or settable) to a LiFePO4 program; old fixed-voltage chargers can't do it. (2) Alternator charging must go through a DC-DC charger — never connect an alternator straight to lithium. Lithium's very low internal resistance lets it pull maximum current continuously, which can cook an alternator, and modern smart alternators don't hold the right voltage anyway. (3) The BMS can disconnect the battery instantly to protect itself, so the system must tolerate that — another reason the DC-DC charger belongs in the circuit. We can check your exact setup from a photo of your battery compartment.

Depends on the model — and this is the number-one thing to check before you order. Blue Smart IP22: NO DC cables included. It has screw terminals (up to 16mm2 cable) and you supply your own battery cable and lugs cut to your run length — our made-to-order cables cover this, or grab cable per metre and lugs. Blue Smart IP65: DC lead with M8 eyelet connectors AND alligator clamps included — plug-and-play out of the box. Blue Smart IP67: fixed, potted DC cables built in. Phoenix Smart IP43 and Skylla: screw terminals, no DC cables — size cable to the charger's output current (see our cable-sizing question) and add a fuse at the battery. Same rule applies across Victron: MPPTs, inverters and inverter/chargers ship without battery cables, fuses or solar leads. Tell us the charger and your cable run and we'll add the right cables to the order.

IP is Ingress Protection: first digit = dust, second = water. In practice: IP22 (Blue Smart IP22, 12V 15/20/30A, 24V 8/12/16A, 1 or 3 outputs) — indoor only, fan-cooled, not water protected; the workhorse for garages, caravan cupboards, dry boat cabins, and the only Blue Smart with 3 outputs and VE.Smart networking. IP43 (Phoenix Smart IP43, 12V/24V 30-50A) — splash-protected, the step up for bigger battery banks and engine rooms away from direct spray. IP65 (Blue Smart IP65, up to 15A) — dust-tight and hose-jet proof, silent (no fan), comes with clamps and eyelets; the portable and semi-exposed pick. IP67 (Blue Smart IP67, up to 25A) — fully sealed, survives immersion to 1m; for bilges, engine bays and anywhere it will get properly wet. Rule of thumb: dry cabin or garage = IP22; bigger bank = IP43; portable or damp = IP65; wet = IP67. All carry Victron's 5-year warranty.

No. Whether lead-acid or lithium, only ever combine identical batteries — same brand, model, capacity and age — and charge them to the same voltage before connecting. Mismatched batteries have different internal resistance, so one battery does more of the work, discharges harder, charges harder, and fails early, taking the bank's performance with it. For lead-acid banks, Victron also recommends no more than 3-4 paralleled strings, with wiring arranged so every battery has an equal cable path (busbars or diagonal connection) — otherwise the battery closest to the load quietly wears out first.