The short answer. Both charge lithium, both have Bluetooth, and both use the same 14.2 V lithium setting. The IP22 is the bigger box: 15 to 30 A at 12 V, a fan, a quiet night mode and a 3-output option, but it needs a dry spot. The IP65 tops out at 25 A, has no fan, and is sealed for damp places.
You’ll need
- One shore charger: Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/30 1-bank 120V, or a Blue Smart IP65 if the spot is wet
- Your bank’s real amp-hour figure. Get it from the Battery bank size calculator
- DC cable and a fuse from the charger to the battery or busbar. Size them with the Wire gauge calculator and the Fuse size calculator
- A 120 V outlet near the charger, fed from your boat’s shore power inlet. If that outlet isn’t there yet, a licensed marine electrician adds it
Here’s the plan. Pick the spot first, because the spot picks the charger. Then match the amps to your bank. Then mount it and set the lithium mode. Let’s go.
What’s the real difference between the IP22 and the IP65?
The number after “IP” is the case rating. The IP22 is an aluminium box with a cooling fan on the bigger models, made to stay bolted in a dry place. Victron says it’s designed to be permanently mounted. The IP65 is a sealed plastic case with no fan at all. Victron calls it water, dust and chemical resistant, and says it works as a portable charger or a mounted one.
That one difference drives the rest. The IP22 can push more current and has a 3-output version. The IP65 gives up some amps to stay sealed and silent.
Side by side: the 12 V models in Victron’s 120 V documents
| Blue Smart IP22 (120 V) | Blue Smart IP65 (120 V) | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 V output current options | 15 / 20 / 30 A | 5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 25 A |
| IP rating | IP22 | IP65 |
| Number of outputs | 1, or 3 isolated outputs | One battery cable |
| Bluetooth | Built in (VictronConnect app) | Built in (VictronConnect app) |
| Lithium mode | Li-ion mode, 14.2 V absorption | Li-ion mode, 14.2 V absorption |
| Night / low-noise mode | NIGHT mode: half current, fan off, ends after 8 hours. LOW mode: half current until you turn it off | Low current mode (12/15: 4 A; 12/25: 10 A). No fan, so it’s always silent |
| Cooling | Fan assisted (except the 12/15) | Convection, no fan |
| Operating temperature | -20 to +50 °C, full output up to 40 °C | Full output up to 30 °C. Victron’s manual and brochure give different overall ranges, so check the manual for your unit |
| Efficiency (12 V) | 93% in the datasheet, 94% max in the manual | 94% max |
| Standby draw | 0.5 W | 0.5 W |
| Battery connection | Screw terminals, 16 mm² / 6 AWG | 1.5 m (5 ft) red/black cable, M8 rings and clamps included |
| AC cord | 1.8 m (6 ft), NEMA 5-15 plug | 1.8 m (6 ft), NEMA 1-15P plug |
All cells come from Victron’s 120 V datasheet, manuals and brochure for each charger (sources at the bottom).
Which one charges lithium better?
Neither, on paper. Both have a Li-ion mode that absorbs at 14.2 V on a 12 V battery and holds storage at 13.5 V. Victron’s IP65 manual says a lithium battery is normally well above 95% charged by the end of the bulk stage. The absorption stage that tops it off typically takes under 30 minutes.
What changes is speed. Victron’s own example: a flat 100 Ah lithium battery on a 10 A charger takes about 10 hours. Triple the amps and you cut the bulk time to about a third. That’s why the IP22 12/30 suits a big house bank.
Both manuals give the same warning: don’t charge a lithium battery below 0 °C. If your boat sits in the cold, check that your battery’s BMS blocks charging when it’s that cold.
How many amps do I need?
Victron lists a largest bank for each model, based on charging at 0.1C or more:
- IP22 12/30: up to 300 Ah
- IP65 12/15: up to 150 Ah
- IP65 12/25: up to 250 Ah
There’s a floor too. Victron says the IP22 12/30 at full current shouldn’t charge a lithium bank smaller than 60 Ah. Below that, turn on LOW mode or pick a smaller charger.
Not sure of your bank size? Run it through the Battery bank size calculator first, then come back to this list.
Where should a shore charger go on a boat?
Same rules for both, straight from Victron’s manuals:
- On a non-flammable surface with at least 10 cm of clear space all round
- Good natural airflow
- Not on top of the battery, not directly above it, and not in a sealed compartment with it
- Mounted vertically. Terminals face down on the IP22, the AC cable faces down on the IP65
So what’s the spot like? A dry locker or a cabin bulkhead suits the IP22. Anywhere it could get spray, bilge damp or a hose-down, use the IP65. Victron’s IP65 brochure also lists it as ignition protected, which matters if your only space is near the engine.
Do I need the 3-output IP22?
Only if you charge separate batteries off one charger, such as a house bank plus a start battery. Victron’s 3-output models have a built-in isolator, so the batteries don’t feed each other. Two catches from the manual. All three outputs share the charger’s full rated current. And one charge algorithm runs on every output, so every battery on it needs to suit the same setting, which in practice means the same chemistry.
A lithium house bank and a lead-acid start battery don’t share a charge setting. In that case, a 1-output charger on the house bank is the simpler fit. The Upgrading a boat to lithium: everything around the battery covers how the start battery gets charged.
Can the charger use my SmartShunt?
Yes. Both chargers join Victron’s VE.Smart Network over Bluetooth. A SmartShunt, BMV, or Smart Battery Sense can send the charger the real battery voltage and temperature. A SmartShunt or BMV also sends the current. The IP22 datasheet says up to ten chargers can sync on one network and charge as one big charger. Note the datasheet line: on the IP22, VE.Smart works on serial numbers HQ2024xxxxx and later.
How do I fit a Blue Smart charger? Step by step
The DC side is a good job to do yourself. The AC side is not. Here’s the order.
- Check the outlet. You need a 120 V outlet near the charger, fed from the boat’s shore power. If there isn’t one, stop here. Shore power wiring is a licensed marine electrician’s job. Victron also says never to cut or change the charger’s cord or plug. If the plug doesn’t fit, have the right outlet put in by a qualified electrician.
- Switch off first. Shore power unplugged, loads and chargers off, battery switch off.
- Mount the charger. Vertical, 10 cm clear all round, not above the battery.
- Size the DC cable and fuse. Use the Wire gauge calculator for the run length and the Fuse size calculator for the fuse at the battery end.
- Connect the DC side. On the IP22, take the terminal cover off, land the cables on the battery terminals and tighten the screws to 2.4 Nm, as Victron specifies. Then put the cover back. On the IP65, clip the cable end you need (M8 rings for a fixed job) onto the charger’s lead.
- Fit the DC fuse, switch the battery back on, then plug in and pick Li-ion mode. Use the MODE button or the VictronConnect app. Turn on NIGHT or LOW mode if you want it quieter or slower.
- Watch the first charge in the app. Check the voltage and current look right, and see it go from bulk to absorption.
Does this comparison fit your setup?
This applies if: – You have a 12 V or 24 V bank and a 120 V shore power outlet on board. – You run lithium (LiFePO4) or lead-acid, and want one charger for the house bank. – You’re choosing between Victron’s two Blue Smart cases and want the maker’s numbers.
This doesn’t apply if: – You need more than 30 A at 12 V. Look at an inverter/charger instead. – Your boat runs on 230 V shore power. Victron makes 230 V versions with different plugs and some different specs. – You need a new shore power inlet, outlet or AC panel. That’s a licensed marine electrician’s job, before any charger goes in.
Products used in this guide
| Product | Why it’s here |
|---|---|
| Victron Blue Smart IP22 12/30 1-bank 120V | 30 A, Li-ion mode, Bluetooth, NIGHT mode. Up to 300 Ah per Victron. For a dry mounting spot. |
The Blue Smart IP65 isn’t in our range yet. The prices show live from the store, and every charger we list is in Shore chargers.
Bundles for this job: Shore charger + battery monitor bundle
Quick answers
Is the Victron Blue Smart IP22 good for lithium? Yes. It has a Li-ion mode that absorbs at 14.2 V on a 12 V battery. Victron says not to charge lithium below 0 °C, so check your battery’s BMS handles cold.
Is the IP22 noisy? The bigger IP22 models have a fan. NIGHT mode halves the current and keeps the fan off for 8 hours. LOW mode does the same until you switch it off. The IP65 has no fan.
Can I mount an IP22 in my engine room or bilge? It’s rated IP22, so it needs a dry spot. For damp or spray, Victron’s IP65 is the sealed one, and its brochure lists it as ignition protected.
Can one IP22 charge my house bank and start battery? The 3-output model can, but all outputs share one charge setting, so the batteries need to suit the same algorithm. A lithium house bank with a lead-acid start battery doesn’t fit that.
Do I need an electrician to install a shore charger? For the DC side, no, if you follow the manual. For new shore power wiring, outlets or AC panels, yes: that’s a licensed marine electrician’s job.
Sources
- Victron Blue Smart IP22 Charger 120 VAC datasheet: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Blue-Smart-IP22-Charger-120-VAC-EN-.pdf
- Victron Blue Smart IP22 Charger 120V manual: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Blue_Smart_IP22_Charger_120V_manual/181363-Blue_Smart_Charger-pdf-en.pdf
- Victron Blue Smart IP65 Charger 120V manual: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Blue_Smart_IP65_Charger_120V_manual/181363-Blue_Smart_Charger-pdf-en.pdf
- Victron Blue Smart IP65 Charger 120V brochure: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Folder-A5-Blue-Smart-IP65-Charger-120V_EN_web.pdf
