Audio-Technica recalled the charging cases sold with ATH-CK3TW wireless headphones due to a fire hazard, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday. The company received four reports of incidents of the charging cases overheating, all outside the U.S., resulting in damage to the charging cases and the surfaces on which charging occurred. No injuries were reported, it said. Consumers should immediately stop using the charging cases and contact Audio-Technica for instructions on returning the cases for a free replacement charging case. The company will provide a prepaid return shipping label and send a replacement charging case upon receipt of the returned one. The headphones and cases were sold December 2019-February 2021 for between $100 and $120. The recall affects about 7,450 units.
Black Diamond recalled Pieps DSP Avalanche transceivers due to risk of loss of emergency communications, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Tuesday. The transceiver can switch modes unexpectedly when not locked or installed in the harness, preventing the transceiver from transmitting a signal and making it difficult to locate a skier in an avalanche. Black Diamond has received 65 reports of the transceiver modes switching unexpectedly while in use; one death was reported and one skier caught in an avalanche suffered a broken arm and minor injuries. The recall involves about 66,100 units, including PIEPS DSP Pro, DSP Pro Ice, and DSP Sport Avalanche models. Consumers should stop using the recalled avalanche transceivers and contact Black Diamond for a free replacement hardcase carrying system and user guide to be used with the recalled transceivers. The devices were sold at Liberty Mountain, Recreational Equipment and other specialty outdoor stores and online at www.backcountry.com January 2013-November 2020 for $300-$450.
Verizon recalled Ellipses Jetpack mobile hot spots imported by Franklin Wireless due to fire and burn hazards, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Thursday. Verizon received 15 reports of devices overheating, including six reports of fire damage to bedding or flooring and two reports of minor burn injuries. The hot spots were sold at Verizon stores nationwide and other stores April 2017-March for $50-$150. The recalled devices are in a dark navy plastic oval housing with Verizon printed below the display window, and the paired charger has a sticker on the wire that says: “Compatible: FWC MHS900L, Model: FWCR900TVL, DC151030.” Consumers should power the unit off and keep it away from combustibles until it can be returned to Verizon. Users who need the hot spot for internet access should plug it in and power it on to receive two automatic over-the-air software updates that enable an ID number to be viewed on screen and prevent the device from charging while powered on. When it's not in use, they should turn it off and unplug it, CPSC said. Owners can call Verizon toll-free at 855-205-2627 or go online at www.EllipsisJetpackRecall.expertinquiry.com for information on receiving a free replacement device, said CPSC.
Jimco Lamps recalled Hunt Home and J Hunt and Co. accent tables with embedded USB charging receptacles due to a shock hazard, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday. Consumers should immediately stop using the charging receptacles and ports and contact Jimco at 833-659-0753, jhunthome.com or jimcolamp.com for a full refund or free replacement accent table. The tables were sold at HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and other home furnishings stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other sites from May 2019-December 2020 for $60-$130. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Belkin recalled a wireless charging power bank due to a manufacturing defect in the power supply that can cause the charger to malfunction and overheat, posing shock and fire hazards, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday. The Belkin Portable Wireless Charger + Stand Special Edition, with up to 10-watt charging capability when docked, was sold at Apple stores worldwide, on Apple.com and Belkin.com July-October for about $80. No injuries were reported. Consumers should stop using the charger and contact Belkin for instructions on safe disposal and to register for a refund or credit, CPSC said. The recall affects about 2,280 devices.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers Friday not to buy or use loose 18650 lithium-ion battery cells, saying they can short-circuit, resulting in explosion or fire. The specified cells are manufactured as industrial component parts of battery packs, don't have protection circuits and aren't intended for individual sale to consumers, but they're being separated, rewrapped and sold as new consumer batteries, typically on the internet, said CPSC. Rechargeable lithium cells without proper protection that aren't installed in a device or as part of an integral battery may have exposed metal positive and negative terminals that can short-circuit when they come into contact with metal objects, such as keys or loose change in a pocket, it said. Once shorted, loose cells can overheat and experience "thermal runaway, igniting the cell’s internal materials and forcibly expelling burning contents, resulting in fires, explosions, serious injuries and even death," it said. Thermal runaway can also occur in loose cells if consumers use them in inappropriate chargers that allow charging beyond the cell’s specifications, CPSC warned. A growing number of small consumer products, such as vaping devices, personal fans, headlamps and some toys, use loose 18650s as a power source, it said. CPSC is working with e-commerce sites, including eBay, to remove listings for loose cells.
LG recalled 1,815 Resu 10H lithium-ion storage batteries that are part of residential energy solar panel systems, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday. The company received five reports of fires resulting in minor property damage; no injuries were reported. The recalled battery allows owners to capture and store energy from solar panels. Consumers should contact LG Energy Solution Michigan to schedule a free replacement. The batteries were sold nationwide to distributors of the systems January 2017-March 2019 for about $8,000.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission can better protect the public from everyday hazards by “prioritizing resources,” ensuring compliance with its own reporting requirements and measuring recall effectiveness more comprehensively, reported GAO Thursday. Though staff regularly do recall “checks” by confirming that recalled products were removed from shelves and appropriate signage was placed in stores, “CPSC does not consistently assign more checks to higher-risk recalls,” the auditor said. It faulted failing to “centrally track whether firms undertaking recalls have submitted required monthly progress reports.” GAO found 61% of firms submitted progress reports more than 75% of the time for recalls closed in the four years ended in May. CPSC measures the proportion of recalled product units that have been refunded, replaced or repaired, but “using a single measure may not allow CPSC to accurately gauge the effectiveness,” said GAO. Use additional performance metrics, it recommended. CPSC didn’t comment Thursday, but wrote GAO Nov. 6 that it "generally" supports the report's recommendations and conclusions. The letter appears in Appendix IV of the report.
Ring recalled its second-generation video doorbell due to a fire and burn hazard when incorrect screws are used for installation, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Tuesday. Consumers should immediately stop installing the recalled doorbells and contact Ring for revised installation instructions or download them here. Consumers can check if their video doorbell is part of this recall through Ring’s website or app. The company has received 85 incident reports of incorrect doorbell screws installed with 23 of those doorbells igniting, resulting in minor property damage; it received eight reports of minor burns. The recall affects about 350,000 units sold in the U.S. and 8,700 in Canada.
Monoprice recalled Category 6 Ethernet bulk CMR communications cable used in home and office networks for not meeting UL 1666 voluntary safety standards, posing a fire hazard when exposed to a flame, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday. Consumers should stop using the recalled cables and contact Monoprice to schedule a free visit to inspect and replace the cable. It was sold at the Monoprice website, Amazon and through installation companies December 2018-February 2020 for $20-$130.