General Duty Safety Switches

CPSC Recall #07-062 - December 14, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number07-062
Recall DateDecember 14, 2006
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 27,600
ManufacturerSquare D Co., of Palatine, Ill.
Manufactured InMexico

Where It Was Sold

Electrical distributors and retailers from September 2006 through November 2006 for between $120 and $300.

Product

General Duty Safety Switches

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Square D Co., of Palatine, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 27,600 General Duty Safety Switches. The safety switch can continue to supply electricity even after being placed in the "OFF" position. This poses the risk of an electric shock or electrocution hazard to consumers.Name of Product: General Duty Safety SwitchesUnits: About 27,600Manufacturer: Square D Co., of Palatine, Ill.Hazard: The safety switch can continue to supply electricity even after being placed in the "OFF" position. This poses the risk of an electric shock or electrocution hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.Description: The recall includes General Duty 30 and 60 ampere, 240 volt, 1 phase and 3 phase NEMA 3R safety switches. The switches are typically used to control the flow of electricity to outdoor motorized units that are hardwired to a household or business' electrical system such as outdoor air conditioning and heating (HVAC) equipment. The switches contain "ON" and "OFF" positions. The "OFF" position is designed to cut the flow of electricity to an outdoor motorized unit to protect the person who is servicing the unit. The recalled switches have the following date codes and catalog number printed on bottom of the wiring label inside the front cover or on bottom of the package label.Date CodesCatalog Numbers06371 through 06446D211NRBD211NRBBPD211NRBCPD221NRBD221NRBCPD321NRBD321NRBCPDU221RBDU222RBDU321RBDU322RBSold at: Electrical distributors and retailers from September 2006 through November 2006 for between $120 and $300.Manufactured in: MexicoRemedy: Consumers should return the uninstalled safety switches to the retailer or distributor where purchased for a free replacement unit. Installed safety switches will be replaced free of charge by contacting the firm.Customer Contact: Contact Square D toll-free at (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.us.squared.com.

Hazard

The safety switch can continue to supply electricity even after being placed in the "OFF" position. This poses the risk of an electric shock or electrocution hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should return the uninstalled safety switches to the retailer or distributor where purchased for a free replacement unit. Installed safety switches will be replaced free of charge by contacting the firm.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.

No, you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.