Secondary surge arrester, Cat. No. SDT1175SB

CPSC Recall #95-168 — September 18, 1995

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-168
Recall DateSeptember 18, 1995
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedApproximately 4,200

Product

Secondary surge arrester, Cat. No. SDT1175SB

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, the Square D Company of Palatine, Ill., is recalling approximately 4,200 secondary surge arresters used in circuit breaker panel boards. The surge protection device can degrade over time, which could result in fire. Square D is aware of five incidents in which arresters caught fire. Two of these fires caused property damage. The secondary surge arrester, Cat. No. SDT1175SB, is installed to protect home electrical wiring systems from lightning or power surges. The recalled arresters were designed for use only in Square D Company "Trilliant" brand panel boards, SDT Series 1 Home Power Systems, 100-200 Amperes. The units were installed in circuit breaker panel boards in consumers' homes by electrical contractors. When viewed from a circuit breaker panel board, the gray plastic surge arrester measures 2 1/2 inches wide by 3/4 inches high. A small green indicator light is visible on the side of the surge breaker. A label adjacent to the area states: "SURGEBREAKER. Light On (with unit properly installed) - unit is working. Light Off or Flashing - replace unit." Consumers who own the suspect surge breakers should immediately call: (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. A local Square D representative will assist consumers in arranging for replacement of the affected surge breakers, at no additional cost. Square D offers two other lines of Secondary Surge Arresters that are not subject to this recall.

Hazard

The surge protection device can degrade over time, which could result in fire.

Incidents & Injuries

Square D is aware of five incidents in which arresters caught fire. Two of these fires caused property damage.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who own the suspect surge breakers should immediately call (877) 202-9046. A local Square D representative will assist consumers in arranging for replacement of the affected surge breakers, at no additional cost. 

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.

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.