The ISOLATED version of the Victron Orion has a separate, galvanic isolated input and output negative while the NON-ISOLATED uses a common negative return. If both your source and target batteries share a negative (ie chassis ground) then you do not need the isolated version. In other words, if starter battery and storage battery have common negative (example: if everything is grounded to the chassis) then the non-isolated version of the Orion is suitable. If they’re not grounded the same then use the isolated version.

~99% of applications will not require electrical isolation between starter and house battery meaning the non-isolated DC-DC is fine. However, there are instances where the isolated model is required and benefits include:

• The house battery is protected from the starter one. If there is an electrical failure like a short-circuit in the input
(starter battery), that will not be reflected in the output (house battery). If you have very sensitive instruments such as
medical devices, we would recommend an isolated DC-DC.

• The house battery is electrically isolated and magnetically coupled to the starter one. That permits some sort of
protection against conducive interference that could come from the grounding, such as the one coming from poor
alternator. If you have high quality communication instruments (like radios) connected to your house battery and you
require reliable performance without interference, we would recommend an isolated DC-DC.

Advantages of Non Isolated Chargers

• Cost Savings
• Smaller size
• Higher efficiency

Advantages of Isolated Chargers

• Safety compliance
• Breaking of ground loops
• Floating output and level shifting