For boats and vehicles that need an isolated charger, or anyone who wants Victron Bluetooth and a 5 year warranty on a small house bank.
Off Grid Stores $162.19The Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated is the better DC-DC charger overall, rated 3.4 to 3.0. The Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated leads on warranty, features and value. The Sterling Power BB1225 25A wins on efficiency and charge current. The Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated costs $87.81 less ($162.19 vs $250).
For boats and vans where keeping the start battery charged matters as much as the house bank.
Amazon $250Prices were last checked October 31, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated for warranty (5-year warranty vs 2-year warranty), features (smart alternator support, Bluetooth, isolated vs smart alternator support) and value ($9.01 per amp ($162.19, 18 A) vs $10.42 per amp ($250, 24 A)).
- Choose the Sterling Power BB1225 25A for efficiency (98% peak efficiency vs 87% peak efficiency) and charge current (24 A vs 18 A).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every up to 30 A DC-DC charger; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated | Sterling Power BB1225 25A |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.4/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Value 30% | 41 $9.01 per amp ($162.19, 18 A) | 31 $10.42 per amp ($250, 24 A) |
| Charge current 20% | 40 18 A | 70 24 A |
| Efficiency 10% | 0 87% peak efficiency | 100 98% peak efficiency |
| Features 20% | 75 smart alternator support, Bluetooth, isolated | 25 smart alternator support |
| Warranty 20% | 100 5-year warranty | 25 2-year warranty |
Specifications
| Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 Isolated | Sterling Power BB1225 25A | |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | ||
| Charge current | 18 A | 24 A |
| Input battery | 12 V | 12 V |
| Output battery | 12 V | 12 V |
| LiFePO4 profile | Yes | Yes |
| Smart alternator support | Yes | Yes |
| Peak efficiency | 87% | 98% |
| Isolated | Yes | - |
| Solar | ||
| Solar input | No | No |
| Build | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Weight | 3 lb | 1.3 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years | 2 years |
