Safety regulator, Schneider Electric North American Division Announce Recall of AFCIs
Recall 05035 · Nov 3, 2004 · Schneider Electric North American Division
700,000
units affected
700,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 05035
- Date
- Nov 3, 2004
- Company
- Schneider Electric North American Division
- Units affected
- 700,000
- Product
- Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
- Product type
- Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
- Hazard
- Fire
The product
The recalled Square D QO® and Homeline® Arc Fault Interrupter circuit breakers are used with 15- and 20-amp branch circuits. They are required to be installed in bedroom circuits in accordance with the 2002 National Electrical Code. The recalled units were manufactured after March 1, 2004, and have a blue test button. The AFCI circuit breakers have one of the following date codes - CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN - stamped in red on the breaker label located just above the wiring terminal. The recalled units also have one of the following catalog numbers printed on a label on the front of the breaker: QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI.
What can happen
An AFCI is an electrical circuit protection device (circuit breaker) that detects electrical arcs from cracked, broken or damaged electrical insulation and shuts off power to the circuit before the arcing leads to a fire. An electronic component failure inside the AFCIs can cause the devices to not detect an electrical arc. Although the AFCIs will function as regular circuit breakers, they may not detect an arc fault, posing a safety risk to consumers.
The fix
Installed AFCIs will be replaced free of charge through electrical contractors. Consumers can return uninstalled AFCIs to the retailers or distributor from whom the unit was purchased for a free replacement unit.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- Schneider Electric is investigating one reported fire during a new home construction that may be related to this problem. No injuries have been reported.
- Sold at
- Electrical distributors and retailers sold the AFCIs between March 2004 and September 2004 for between $30 and $130.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled arc fault circuit interrupters (afci)?
Installed AFCIs will be replaced free of charge through electrical contractors. Consumers can return uninstalled AFCIs to the retailers or distributor from whom the unit was purchased for a free replacement unit.
What is the hazard?
An AFCI is an electrical circuit protection device (circuit breaker) that detects electrical arcs from cracked, broken or damaged electrical insulation and shuts off power to the circuit before the arcing leads to a fire. An electronic component failure inside the AFCIs can cause the devices to not detect an.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.