Counterfeit "Square D" Circuit Breakers

CPSC Recall #07-036 - November 15, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number07-036
Recall DateNovember 15, 2006
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 30,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Scott Electric Co. distributor locations throughout Pennsylvania and Texas and nationwide at retail electrical supply and home stores from May 2005 through May 2006 for between $4 and $25.

Product

Counterfeit "Square D" Circuit Breakers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Scott Electric Co. Inc., of Greensburg, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 30,000 Counterfeit "Square D" Circuit Breakers. The recalled circuit breakers labeled "Square D" are counterfeit and might not trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Counterfeit "Square D" Circuit BreakersUnits: About 30,000Distributor/Retailer: Scott Electric Co. Inc., of Greensburg, Pa.Hazard: The recalled circuit breakers labeled "Square D" are counterfeit and might not trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Scott Electric Co. is not aware of any incidents or injuries associated with these counterfeit circuit breakers.Description: The counterfeit circuit breakers include Square D QO-series models 115, 120, 130, 160, 215, 230, 260, 1515, and 1520. Actual Square D circuit breakers have (a) the amp rating written on the handle in white paint on the front of the breaker; (b) on the side of the breaker, where wire terminal screw is located, the arc shoot opening should have squared corners with the bottom edge of the opening angled up; (c) the mounting clip should be yellow chromate with half of the top of the clip visible; and (d) the Square D insignia should be molded onto the breaker. If your Square D breaker does not match this description, it could be counterfeit.Sold through: Scott Electric Co. distributor locations throughout Pennsylvania and Texas and nationwide at retail electrical supply and home stores from May 2005 through May 2006 for between $4 and $25.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should contact Scott Electric Co. to arrange for a free inspection and if necessary, replacement or refund.Consumer Contact: To arrange for a free inspection or for additional information, contact Scott Electric toll-free at (877) 222-0473 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to www.scottelectricusa.com - consumers and contractors can also obtain additional information by e-mailing Scott Electric at [email protected].

Hazard

The recalled circuit breakers labeled "Square D" are counterfeit and might not trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Scott Electric Co. is not aware of any incidents or injuries associated with these counterfeit circuit breakers.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should contact Scott Electric Co. to arrange for a free inspection and if necessary, replacement or refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.