Underwater camera strobe light, model number YS-50
CPSC Recall #00-016 - November 15, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 00-016 |
| Recall Date | November 15, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 7,000 |
| Manufactured In | Japan |
Where It Was Sold
| Scuba dive centers and photography stores nationwide sold these strobes from February 1988 through March 1999 for between $500 and $800. |
Product
Underwater camera strobe light, model number YS-50
Description
PRODUCT: Underwater Strobes - Sea & Sea Underwater Photography (U.S.A.) Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., is recalling about 7,000 underwater camera strobe lights, used as a light source for photography to replace the battery cap. The recall includes all model number YS-50 strobes. It also includes all model number YS-60 and YS-120 strobes with serial numbers beginning with 96 or 94. The serial numbers are written inside the plastic housing. They were sold in yellow, black and orange. Writing on the strobes includes, "Sea & Sea" and "Japan." Scuba dive centers and photography stores nationwide sold these strobes from February 1988 through March 1999 for between $500 and $800. PROBLEM: If the strobe becomes flooded, gas build-up can cause the battery cap to forcefully eject off of the strobe or cause the front section of the strobe to violently separate from the back section. Pieces of the strobe can strike the user or others in the vicinity. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: CPSC and Sea & Sea have received two reports of injury resulting from the strobes. The first incident, in the Caribbean, occurred when a repair technician had a tooth chipped as he was removing the battery cap. The second incident, in Japan, caused facial lacerations to a consumer when the strobe unit violently broke apart. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should immediately stop using these strobes. Any strobe suspected of being flooded, which is indicated when the unit either stops working or is corroded, should be returned to an authorized repair center for repair. Sea & Sea is offering a free replacement battery cap with a vent that prevents the gas build up within the strobe. To locate the nearest authorized repair center or for more information, consumers should call Sea & Sea at (800) 732-7977 9 a.m to 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday. Consumers also can write to: Sea & Sea Products Underwater Photography (U.S.A.) Inc., 1938 Kellogg Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008 or email: [email protected].
Hazard
If the strobe becomes flooded, gas build-up can cause the battery cap to forcefully eject off of the strobe or cause the front section of the strobe to violently separate from the back section. Pieces of the strobe can strike the user or others in the vicinity.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Sea & Sea have received two reports of injury resulting from the strobes. The first incident, in the Caribbean, occurred when a repair technician had a tooth chipped as he was removing the battery cap. The second incident, in Japan, caused facial lacerations to a consumer when the strobe unit violently broke apart.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using these strobes. Any strobe suspected of being flooded, which is indicated when the unit either stops working or is corroded, should be returned to an authorized repair center for repair. Sea & Sea is offering a free replacement battery cap with a vent that prevents the gas build up within the strobe.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.