Powerstation II Rechargeable Battery Pack

CPSC Recall #92-127 - July 31, 1992

Recall Summary

Recall Number92-127
Recall DateJuly 31, 1992
Remedy TypeNew Instructions
Units Affected 9,000

Product

Powerstation II Rechargeable Battery Pack

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Coleman Company of Wichita, KS today announced the recall of its Model #5360A550 Nightsight PowerStation II Rechargeable Battery Pack because of a potential fire hazard. According to Coleman, the 12-volt DC battery and output plug power cord could short circuit if the protective sleeve covering the positive battery terminal is exposed and contacts the metal ring of the output plug. This could occur, for example, when the battery pack is stored inside its carrying case. Of the more than 9,000 units sold from August, 1991 to mid November, 1991, all but 789 have been located and replaced. In the company's report to CPSC, one short circuit incident occurred October 30, 1991, when a Coleman employee stored the battery pack inside its carrying case. The power cord running from the battery to the output plug overheated and melted. No fire or injury resulted. No incidents have been reported with units sold to consumers. The PowerStation II provides portable 12-volt DC electric power to electric or electronic appliances such as TVs, radios, or spotlights. These appliances must be equipped with a connector that can be plugged into a standard motor vehicle cigarette lighter socket. Consumers can identify affected units by checking the packing carton for the 5360A550 model number and the carton and black carrying case for the label "Coleman Nightsight PowerStation II 12V Rechargeable Battery Pack." In addition, the battery itself is labeled "Panasonic Rechargeable Battery LCR12V6.5PAD" or "Panasonic Rechargeable Battery LCR12V6.5P." Only the carton is labeled with the model number 5360A550. No other PowerStation II models, including models 5360B550 and 5360-550, are involved. Consumers who have purchased a PowerStation II, Model #5360A550, should call Coleman's toll-free hotline at 1-800-835-3278 for instructions on returning the product to Coleman for free replacement. Consumers may return their unit free of charge to the following address via UPS Freight Collect (not C.O.D.) for prompt replacement: The Coleman Company, Inc., Product Returns Department, Northeast Plant, 3600 North Hydraulic, Wichita, KS 67219. Consumers should disregard this notice if their unit has already been replaced. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from the unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

According to Coleman, the 12-volt DC battery and output plug power cord could short circuit if the protective sleeve covering the positive battery terminal is exposed and contacts the metal ring of the output plug, presenting a potential fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

In the company's report to CPSC, one short circuit incident occurred October 30, 1991, when a Coleman employee stored the battery pack inside its carrying case. The power cord running from the battery to the output plug overheated and melted. No fire or injury resulted. No incidents have been reported with units sold to consumers.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who have purchased a PowerStation II, Model #5360A550, should call Coleman's toll-free hotline at 1-800-835-3278 for instructions on returning the product to Coleman for free replacement. Consumers may return their unit free of charge to the following address via UPS Freight Collect (not C.O.D.) for prompt replacement: The Coleman Company, Inc., Product Returns Department, Northeast Plant, 3600 North Hydraulic, Wichita, KS 67219.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions 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 (New Instructions) 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.