Free guide · Victron Orion XS · Firmware v1.15
Dead starter battery? Your Orion XS can now jump it.
Victron's free firmware v1.15 adds emergency reverse charge to the Orion XS DC-DC charger. It sends power from your RV's house battery back into a flat starter battery so you can crank the engine, without jumper cables or a second vehicle.
Below is the whole process: the update, the one setting to check, and how to use the feature when you're stuck. You can also download everything as a printable guide.
Free 4-page guide (PDF)
- Three ways to update: Bluetooth, VRM, or we do it for you
- Orion XS 1400 starter battery voltage setting
- Step-by-step emergency reverse charge
- Troubleshooting and safety
No sign-up needed · Print it and keep it in the rig
Which chargers get it
Orion XS 12/12-50A
12 V in · 12 V out
| Max reverse current | 25 A* |
| Charges starter to | 14.4 V max |
| House battery floor | 12 V |
Orion XS 12/12-70A
12 V in · 12 V out
| Max reverse current | 35 A* |
| Charges starter to | 14.4 V max |
| House battery floor | 12 V |
Orion XS 1400
Multi-voltage · 12 V or 24 V
| Max reverse current | ½ rated* |
| Charges starter to | 14.4 / 28.8 V |
| House battery floor | 12 / 24 V |
*Reverse current is half the charger's rated current, or your configured current limit if that is lower. As the house battery nears its floor voltage, the Orion XS lowers the current so it isn't drained too deeply. Older Orion-Tr models don't get this feature.
How it works: one 20-minute cycle
The app shows Emergency reverse charge with a countdown, and the current reads as a negative number while power flows backward. After 15 minutes the charger pauses for 5 minutes so the starter battery can settle. The app shows Battery ready, and that's your window to start the engine.
The setup, step by step
Update the app
Install VictronConnect v6.43 or newer from the App Store, Google Play or Victron's website. The v1.15 firmware file comes with the app, so older app versions won't offer the update.
Update the Orion XS firmware
- Stand within Bluetooth range, open VictronConnect and tap your Orion XS.
- When the app offers the firmware update, tap Update. Keep the app open and the phone nearby, and don't cut power to the charger during the update.
- Check it worked: cog ⚙ → menu ⋮ → Product info should read v1.15.
Have a Cerbo GX on VRM? You can also use VRM's Remote firmware update (Device list → Remote firmware update). The Orion XS must be connected over VE.Direct, with Full access turned on.
Orion XS 1400 only: set the starter battery voltage
Tap the cog, find Starter battery voltage in the Charger mode settings, and choose 12 V or 24 V to match your chassis starter battery. Most motorhome and tow-vehicle chassis are 12 V. If you skip this step, the app asks you the first time you use the feature.
Use it when you're stuck
- Switch off headlights and accessories on the starter battery.
- Connect in VictronConnect. On the Status screen, tap the engine icon at the top left.
- Tap I understand the feature, then START.
- Wait for Battery ready, then crank the engine.
To stop early, tap the engine icon again and confirm STOP.
Rather have us do it?
If Tucson RV Solar installed your system and you're a SolarWatch Pro member, Remote Programming Assistance is included. We'll install the v1.15 firmware through VRM, set up the starter battery voltage on an Orion XS 1400, and check your settings afterward.
Give us 48 hours' notice. We'll send you a written summary of exactly what will change, and nothing changes until you approve it. Your Orion XS needs to be connected to a Cerbo GX on VRM. You still start an emergency reverse charge yourself, on-site, from the app. Victron says this is the first of several reverse-charging features planned for the Orion XS.
Includes VRM alert monitoring, same-business-day phone and text support, and remote programming on systems we installed.
See SolarWatch plansAlready a member? Text "Orion v1.15" to 520-910-1237
Quick answers
The app isn't offering the v1.15 update.
Update VictronConnect to v6.43 or newer first, because the firmware file comes with the app. Then reconnect to the charger.
I updated, but there's no engine icon.
Check that Product info shows firmware v1.15. Then make sure the charger has stopped forward charging: the engine must be off, or the input voltage lockout must be active.
The reverse charge current is lower than I expected.
That's normal when your house battery is getting low, because the Orion XS reduces current to protect it. A current limit you've configured also caps reverse current.
Will the update erase my settings?
A normal firmware update keeps your existing charge settings. Taking a screenshot of your settings before you start is still a good habit.
The engine still won't crank after two cycles.
The starter battery may be failing, or the problem may not be the battery at all. Call us at 520-910-1237, a roadside service, or your chassis service provider.
Stop and call right away
If you smell smoke or burning, see melted or damaged wiring, or notice sparking, stop the reverse charge and step away from the battery area. Call a qualified technician, or call us at 520-910-1237. Tucson RV Solar customers: please contact us before modifying or repairing work we installed.
Based on Victron Energy's Orion XS firmware v1.15 release notes and the Orion XS manuals (September 2026): 12/12-50A, 12/12-70A, 1400. App screens may change in later versions, so follow your model's manual if anything here differs. Victron, Orion XS, VictronConnect, VRM and Cerbo GX are trademarks of Victron Energy B.V.