question

I'm having this exact same issue. Seems it only began recently. Charge great for a few minutes, then go into a worthless absorbtion charge almost instantly. Output nearly no power after a couple minutes of charging.

Hi @TazMinianDevil and @pawleyk

Thanks for reporting this issue!

The cause has been found, and a fix is being made right now. I'll update this thread when the fix is available.

I have a very similar issue except it's a combination of an Orion-TR 12/30 non-isolated and a Smart Solar MPPT 100/30.

I bought the Orion thinking it would work together with the Smart Solar over VE smart networking.

The lack of details and options on the app for the Orion is frustrating. What use is telling me just the output voltage, report the current too!

As far as using the Orion is concerned I have found that if I put it into power supply mode for a while and then put it back to charger mode, it will switch back to bulk.

Hi all, the update is available: Orion_Smart_v1.04.zip

I'm not sure if this attachment comes through, it is also available in the beta-version of Victron Connect.

Please be careful with using beta-software!
https://www.victronenergy.com/live/victronconnect:beta#v528beta2

Anyone have this issue with the 12/12-18? I cant get mine to charge at all. It shows it's in absorption and then float but the soc never goes up. It's only charging a 100ah supercycle agm. It's wired through the shunt the same as I have another blue ip67 charger for charging on shore power. The shore power charger works just fine. Any help would be great! I didnt see a file for updating software on the 18a model in the other comments.

I also am trying to root out a possible problem with inconsistent charging with my Orion 12/12-30.
Has there been any further update to the above issue?

Since the recent updates, it will only charge 30amps for a short time then throttle back to around 10-20amps. Previously it would happily go anywhere from 30-39amps (battery is Lifepo4 & able to take this current all ok).

My only other thought is the Victron unit is getting too hot?
Everything is stored in a make ship battery box so I expected it to generate some heat (is pretty normal), which is why I have 2x pc fans pushing 17cfm in and out of the box (when the ambient temp reaches 28deg-C or over - and stops when reaches back under 26deg-C).

Would love for it to go back to the charge rates i was seeing previously!
May just be co-incidence that it started the lower charge rates at the time of the updates, or as above may just be effected from heat.

Same issue here. Recently installed Orion 12/12 - 30amp. Running off Ford Ranger with a smart alternator. Runs fine for 20-30mins pumping out 37 amps. Then drops back to somewhere between 5-10 amps with the battery still at 80% SOC.

Hi guys, again I'm having the same issues. I have two 12/12 30 non isolated Orion's fitted in parallel and they start around 30 amps, but throttle back to around 10 amps with 10 minutes or so? I have tried everything and still the same. If I switch them off the cycle starts again and I get a good charge for 10mins or so. The chargers stay in bulk but the charge voltage stays low and current seems limited. It's not heat as after a power cycle they go back to full current. I've tried one at a time and still the same.

Is this a Victron firmware issue or a hardware issue?

Trying to revive this thread, is there a fix for this issue?

Is there any news on this topic?

I have the same problem with a 12/12 30A non isolated purchased 3 months ago, not in the affected Serial numbers. The cable sections are more than sufficient and the installation is direct to both batteries. I have a permanent fan which makes the equipment practically not hot. After a 2-hour trip with the battery in a low state of charge (50% 2x100Ah AGM), the average current does not exceed 10A. With MPPT it gets 30A without problem from solar, so battery it's ok. If I turn the equipment off and on, it makes it work for a while at 20-30, and 5-10 minutes later, drops down to high oscillating 0-10A. In some short moments, the device consumes 1-2A. The load is at about constant 1A in this last drive.

The engine detection is off, and the alternator is intelligent regenerative with 12,1-14,8V range.

I have tested different output voltages for absorption (14,4-14,7V) with no difference.

I am very disappointed with this device, as it is totally unusable. ¿It's a hardware issue?

@Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) please, do you have any idea if you are going to solve this problem? In case it is not detected, I will request a replacement or return.

Came to the forum to do a bit of research before buying a 12/12-30. This is rather off-putting. I mean the fact that there were issues is just the way things go. But the complete lack of response (after years), and/or the "I don't understand your problem start a new thread" when the new poster is saying they have the same problem as everyone else just seems like dodging the issue. I kept reading expecting a resolution and then "hey thanks it's fixed," but I'm not finding that.

I would really like to buy the 12/12-30 but at this point my confidence level is really low. It's mostly the response that's giving me second thoughts.

I just purchased a 12/12 - 18A charge controller to replace a 20A renogy charger.

Install: input from the alternator, the vehicle is grounded so I ran a ground cable from the chassis to the charge controller input (verified that with vehicle off it rests around 12.8V, as soon as the vehicle starts it voltage diff across the input + and - terminal screws is 14.xV, output is run to my pos and neg bus bars which connect to 2x100Ah LiPo batteries. There's also 30A renogy MPPT with 200W of solar on my little Westfalia roof wired up to the system.

Did the work in a home depot parking lot, got it running, drove home and it fluctuated from the full 18A down to 6A of current all the way home.

I've got it running on shore power now and I'm getting a consistent 9A draw (so I know its not my batteries BMS that's fluctuating or anything).

When I installed it, it asked me to upgrade to v1.06, maybe I shouldn't have...

What more do I need to provide? Photos of wiring? Screenshots of the Victron app showing both the shunt (which shows the charging current fluctuations) or screenshots of the Victron app showing the DCDC charge controller (pretty minimal info there, just input and output voltage)

Went for a 10 min test drive. Here's my device settings as well:

1. Function: CHARGER

2. Alternator Type: REGULAR ALTERNATOR (its a Bosch 120A "upgraded" on my 30 year old VW, nothing "smart" about this one)
3. Battery Preset: LiFePo4

Clifford Juice Box is the Victron shunt.
The Juicer is the Victron 12/12-18A DCDC Charger