Underwater Communication Devices
CPSC Recall #22-191 — July 28, 2022
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 22-191 |
| Recall Date | July 28, 2022 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 500 (In addition, about 36 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, California |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Blue Dolphin Dive Shop (North Carolina) |
| Performance Scuba (Alabama) Lauderdale Marine Center (Florida) |
| Mountain West Commercial Diving (Idaho) |
| and other dive shops and municipalities nationwide and online at www.otscomm.com from January 2021 through April 2022 for between $1 |
| 650 and $3 |
| 600. |
Product
Underwater Communication Devices
Description
This recall involves the PowerCom 3000D, 5000D and MilCom 6000D underwater communication devices sold with the RBLi-4 Lithium battery pack and the batteries that are also sold separately. The PowerCom, MilCom and RBLi-4 products are used in all SCUBA diving. The recalled RBLi-4 battery packs are in a waterproof housing and supply power to the PowerCom and MilCom products. PowerCom and MilCom along with the model numbers are printed on the front of the underwater communication devices.
Hazard
Water can leak into the recalled underwater communication device during a dive and penetrate into the battery pack, causing the battery circuit board to short and ignite after the dive, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has reported one small fire with the battery’s PC circuit board during testing. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Powercom, MilCom and RBLi-4 communication devices, remove the battery and contact the firm to receive a free battery pack that has been sealed to prevent water leakage. The firm will provide instructions for properly disposing lithium-ion batteries according federal and state regulations.
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.
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.