Isolated vs Non-Isolated Victron DC-DC Battery Chargers

Updated 11/09/2026 | Published 11/08/2026

Question:

VN56RR In this video, your Tech used an isolated DC-DC charger. Why isolated instead of isolated? Thank you

asked by: Danny

Expert Reply:

Hey! I'm assuming you meant why we used an isolated charger instead of a non-isolated one. The main difference is how the two battery systems are grounded.

The Victron Orion-Tr Smart # VN56RR is isolated, meaning the input and output have separate grounds. This is useful when the vehicle's starting battery and the auxiliary battery don't share a common ground. If both batteries share the same chassis ground, a non-isolated charger will typically work just fine.

The isolated version gives you more flexibility for different installations, which is another reason to choose it.

What kind of setup are you planning to install the charger on?

expert reply by: Robin H