Surprising safety issue with this charger!!!

This is an update to a previous video I did about comparing this charger to the Amperetime lithium charger. A commenter in that video asked about voltage issue so I tested 2 more units and there is a safety concern with using this charger. Special thanks to @harleycharley01 for his question and pointing out a possible safety concern.
Here is the previous video:
• Is the $100 LifePo4 ch...
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[@OP-fd4lh]

Thank you for the update. I can't find the Atian on sale but would still buy one but as you say; I would just be careful. Unfortunately, not everyone who bought one may have known about this safety hazard. Great info and content that you have been creating.

[@24So]

Thanks for the update 😮

[@TheZamakiroba]

It is normal. It is required for many lithium batteries. Furthermore, it indicates it in the manual

[@davef.2329]

I have 2 of those red ones, both with "Foxsur" on the back like yours. They both do the same thing and, coincidentally, when connected to LiFePo4 battery (ies) also show a wattage draw of 38W on a Kill-o-Watt meter with the charger display reading "FULL" and no flashing of LEDs. It must be doing something.

[@harleycharley01]

Were your chargers in 24V mode, before getting the 30V readings? My charger was used at 12V before reading 17V in "OFF". There seems to be little to no amperage in the leads. Any load, like a small light bulb sends it into error mode and the voltage drops off. Maybe it is a sensing current sent from the charger to detect the battery condition? Other than this anomaly, the charger works great.

[@senselessfun]

I just tested and checked mine again and same result. I think you may be onto something regarding the charger trying to detect battery. My units have only been used for 12v but the chargers automatically detect what the battery voltage is. I hooked it up to my 12v 50ah ampertime battery and it then showed 12v on the charger. Unhook the battery and shows no 12v or 24v on the display. It still shows 30V on the leads though after unhooking the battery from charger. Not exactly sure what the issue is but I also agree the chargers work great other than this weird thing.

[@TurtleWaxed]

Check and see what the current is coming out when you see the volts with unit in OFF. It may be sending out a "sense" voltage which is often just a small trickle and may be actually harmless. If it is jumping it is most likely just "Looking" for a load. a floating voltage is common in many applications. Does the Kilawatt show any power being pulled? What is the power draw in OFF vs full charging rate on a dead battery? It does say it is "Smart Automatic Maintainer Trickle Charger" so it is probably doing a float charge regardless if there is a load or not. I agree that is not best as OFF should be completely OFF and not trickle. It should have an OUTPUT RELAY so it can completely isolate aka shut off the output in the OFF mode.

[@avrumo]

Perhaps it is a Capacitor discharging ? Be interesting when this Brand answers this question to you . TNX for the Demo and info .

[@ahmadadam5182]

great update … I didn’t realize it, I’ll test mine later … thx. done testing: it showed 30.64V at the clamps whilst showing “Off” … I have another charger; with its power on the clamps showed 16.64V … the thing is my 12V car battery is showing 14.05V at the terminals … guess the battery on its own is also a safety issue … point is, both chargers should be treated with respect at the clamps when connected to a live power source; same as a 12V or 24V batteries standing minding their own business at the corner … great tip by the way …

[@daninbenson]

I think it is a "wake up" voltage for LiFePO4 batteries. If the battery BMS disconnected due to low voltage (dead < 9 volts or so), you can't charge it until the BMS sees voltage at the terminals that is above it's disconnect voltage. Many newer battery chargers that are not lithium specific take a voltage measurement (requires no output from charger, just like your voltmeter) to determine charging voltage (i.e. 6,12 or 24 volt). If the charger sees no voltage, it won't charge- useless if BMS is disconnected. LiFePO4 chargers send a voltage to "wake up" a disconnected BMS so charging can begin. Sometimes you can even wake up a BMS with a little square 9 volt battery. Still "Off" should be "off". Bad design.