Meter socket load center
CPSC Recall #05-515 - November 18, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-515 |
| Recall Date | November 18, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | 2,754 |
| Manufacturer | Midwest Electric Products, of Mankato, MN; and GE Consumer & Industrial, of Plainville, CT |
| Manufactured In | Mexico |
Product
Meter socket load center
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Midwest Electric Products of Mankato, MN and GE Consumer & Industrial of Plainville, CT are voluntarily recalling 2,754 meter socket load centers. Some of these products were sold with loose internal bolt connections, which could result in excessive heat or fire.Name of Product: Meter socket load center Units: 2,754, manufactured from May through August 6, 2004.Manufacturer: Midwest Electric Products, HW 22 North, Mankato, MN 56001, and GE Consumer & Industrial, 41 Woodford Ave., Plainville, CTHazard: Some of these products were sold with loose internal bolt connections, which could result in excessive heat or fire.Incidents/Injuries: Six units have been returned with overheated connections, and one resulted in a fire that was contained to the product. There have been no injuries reported.Description: The following models are included in this recall: model numbers R256EB1A, R256EB1NA, and R256EB1018A (Midwest) and TSLR1220CSAL (GE). Affected date code range is SAL421 through 432.Sold at: Distributed by electrical product distributorsManufactured in: MexicoRemedy: Midwest and GE have begun contacting all consumers, distributors and the utility companies to locate the affected products. They will repair or replace the product at no charge to the consumers/Consumer Contact: For additional information consumers should call the Recall Hotline (866) 665-4544 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
Some of these products were sold with loose internal bolt connections, which could result in excessive heat or fire.
Incidents & Injuries
Six units have been returned with overheated connections, and one resulted in a fire that was contained to the product. There have been no injuries reported.
Remedy Instructions
Midwest and GE have begun contacting all consumers, distributors and the utility companies to locate the affected products. They will repair or replace the product at no charge to the consumers.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, Repair 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, Repair) 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.