| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2000 Release # 00-090b | Company Phone Number: (800) 262-7818
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris, (301) 504-7066 |
PRODUCT: AC Converters - Coast Electronics Supply, of Cerritos, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 AC converters that are used to convert overseas consumer products that run on 220 volts to American household current at 110 volts and vice-versa. The converter is available in nine different watts varying from 100 watts to 3000 watts. It is labeled in part, "UP/DOWN AC-CONVERTER...220V...110V...TAIWAN." Small electronic stores in California, Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas sold the product for $25 to $30.
PROBLEM: The product presents an electrical shock hazard because the unplugged end of the cord is energized when the other end is plugged in.
INCIDENTS/INJURIES: A 4-year old boy was shocked when he grasped the end of the cord.
WHAT TO DO: Stop using the product immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Coast Electronics Supply at (800) 262-7818 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.