CPSC, Schneider Electric North American Division recall
CPSC, Schneider Electric North American Division Announce Recall of AFCIs
Why was CPSC, Schneider Electric North American Division recalled?
An AFCI is an electrical circuit protection device (circuit breaker) that detects electrical arcs from cracked, broken or damaged electrical insulation and shuts off power to the circuit before the arcing leads to a fire. An electronic component failure inside the AFCIs can cause the devices to not detect an electrical arc. Although the AFCIs will function as regular circuit breakers, they may not detect an arc fault, posing a safety risk to consumers.
What should I do if I have this product?
Installed AFCIs will be replaced free of charge through electrical contractors. Consumers can return uninstalled AFCIs to the retailers or distributor from whom the unit was purchased for a free replacement unit. Contact: Consumers should call the Customer Care Center Number “888 SQUARED” or 888-778-2733 to return the product for replacement or refund. Consumers can also call 1-800-634-8730 and ask for the Product Services Support Manager.
What to do with a recalled product: refunds, receipts, safe disposal and how to report a problem.
Is my product affected?
Compare the item in your hand with every identifier below from the official CPSC record. Only products that match the listed product and identifiers are part of this recall.
- Product
- Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
- Company
- Schneider Electric North American Division, of Palatine, Ill.
- Quantity
- About 700,000
- Sold at
- Electrical distributors and retailers sold the AFCIs between March 2004 and September 2004 for between $30 and $130.
- Recall date
- November 3, 2004
- Incidents / injuries
- Schneider Electric is investigating one reported fire during a new home construction that may be related to this problem. No injuries have been reported.
- Agency
- CPSC
Product description
The recalled Square D QO® and Homeline® Arc Fault Interrupter circuit breakers are used with 15- and 20-amp branch circuits. They are required to be installed in bedroom circuits in accordance with the 2002 National Electrical Code. The recalled units were manufactured after March 1, 2004, and have a blue test button. The AFCI circuit breakers have one of the following date codes - CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN - stamped in red on the breaker label located just above the wiring terminal. The recalled units also have one of the following catalog numbers printed on a label on the front of the breaker: QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI.