M400 Omnidirectional CB base station antennas
CPSC Recall #86-007 - February 12, 1986
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 86-007 |
| Recall Date | February 12, 1986 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 2,000 |
Product
M400 Omnidirectional CB base station antennas
Description
Washington, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Granada Electronics Inc., Brooklyn, NY is voluntarily recalling its Model M400 Omnidirectional CB base station antennas. If contact is made by the antennas with an electrical power line while being installed or taken down, the antennas have the potential for severe or fatal shock. The CPSC stated that in tests conducted on the Model M400, it failed to comply with the agency's mandatory safety standard and labeling requirements. The standard is intended to reduce the electrocution hazard if the antenna should accidentally contact a power line while being removed or installed. The standard requires labeling on the product and its packaging warning about the electrocution hazard and further requires instructions for safe installation. Granada Electronics Inc. distributed approximately 2000 of the affected antennas nationwide. The Model M400 CB Base Station Antenna consists of 14 sections of aluminum tubing which form two three-legged tripods on its mast. The CPSC is not aware of any injuries or deaths involving the Model M400 antennas. About 500 antenna-related electrocutions have been estimated to have occurred since 1976 as a result of CB antennas coming into contact with electrical power lines while the antennas are being put up or taken down. Therefore, consumers should not take down any of the recalled antennas, which are already installed. The affected antennas are being removed from dealers and replaced. Retailers who still have the model M400 in stock should return them to Granada Electronics Inc., immediately for replacement. Consumers owning any of the M400 models that have not been installed should return the antenna to the dealer for a full refund. Consumers who have already installed the M400 models should leave them alone. These persons can obtain a warning hang tag to be placed in a conspicuous location on the product to warn future users about the potential hazard. The hang tag can be obtained by calling Granada Electronics Inc., at 718-387-1156 or writing the firm at 485 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211. As a normal practice, individuals planning to install or take down a CB antenna should first contact their local power company for advice if overhead wires pass through the neighborhood.
Hazard
If contact is made by the antennas with an electrical power line while being installed or taken down, the antennas have the potential for severe or fatal shock.
Incidents & Injuries
The CPSC is not aware of any injuries or deaths involving the Model M400 antennas.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers owning any of the M400 models that have not been installed should return the antenna to the dealer for a full refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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) 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.