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CPSC, American Power Conversion Corp. Announce Recall of Back-Up Power Supply Systems

  • Recalled Back-UPS® Back-up Power Supply Device
Name of Product:
Back-UPS CS350 and Back-UPS CS 500 Back-up Power Supply devices
Hazard:

The power supply device can fail, causing the unit to overheat, which may pose a fire hazard to consumers.

Remedy:
Replace
Recall Date:
January 14, 2003
Units:

About 900,000

Consumer Contact

Consumers may contact the company at (866) APC-RELY (272-7359) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at www.apc.com/rely.

Recall Details

Description:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Power Conversion Corporation (APC), of West Kingston, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 900,000 back-up power supply devices. These devices are primarily used to protect computers in case of a power failure. The power supply device can fail, causing the unit to overheat, which may pose a fire hazard to consumers.

APC has received six reports of units overheating resulting in the melting of the unit's outer casing and three reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled Back-UPS® CS Uninterruptible Power Supply devices include the Back-UPS CS350 and the Back-UPS CS 500 models. The model number can be found on the front of the unit, along with the words, "Back-UPS CS" and "APC." In addition, one of the following numbers shows up on the bar code label located on the bottom of the unit: BK350, BK500, BK500BLK. The recalled power supply devices also have one of the following serial numbers - AB0048 through AB0251, BB0104 through BB0251, and JB0125 through JB0251 - which can be found on the bottom of the unit. Units with an "R" at the end of the serial number within the above ranges are not part of this recall.

Retailers, computer and electrical distributors, and catalogs nationwide sold the power supply devices from November 2000 through December 2002 for between $70 and $130.

Consumers should immediately stop using the power supply devices by turning off the power to all connected equipment, turning the Back- UPS CS off, and then unplugging it from the electrical outlet. To obtain a free replacement unit, consumers should contact the company at (866) APC-RELY (272-7359) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at www.apc.com/rely.

Remedy:

Consumers should immediately stop using the power supply devices by turning off the power to all connected equipment, turning the Back- UPS CS off, and then unplugging it from the electrical outlet. To obtain a free replacement unit, consumers should contact the company at (866) APC-RELY (272-7359) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at www.apc.com/rely.

Incidents/Injuries:

APC has received six reports of units overheating resulting in the melting of the unit's outer casing and three reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At:
Retailers, computer and electrical distributors, and catalogs nationwide sold the power supply devices from November 2000 through December 2002 for between $70 and $130.
Recall number:
03-068

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

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About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. 

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