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Drawing of outlet converter with three outlets
The ground connector receptacles are oversized and can cause loose ground contacts. Without grounding, consumers are exposed to serious shock hazards.
About 50,000
Consumers may call General Electric at (800) 729-4399 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday.
Recall Details
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), General Electric Co.'s GE Lighting division of Cleveland, Ohio, is recalling about 50,000 outlet converters, also known as current taps. They convert a single electrical outlet into three outlets. The ground connector receptacles are oversized and can cause loose ground contacts. Without grounding, consumers are exposed to serious shock hazards.
GE has received one report of a loose ground plug. No injuries have been reported.
The outlet converters were sold as "GE Heavy-Duty Grounding Triple Taps." They are made of ivory, orange or green plastic and measure about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. The GE logo is imprinted on one side of the converter and "15A-125V...CURRENT TAP...MADE IN CHINA" is imprinted on the other side of the converter. A silver UL label also appears on the converter.
Retail stores nationwide sold the converters from September 1997 through January 1998 for about $3 to $4.
Consumers should stop using the recalled converters immediately and call General Electric at (800) 729-4399 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday. Consumers will be instructed on how to return the product for a free replacement.
Consumers should stop using the recalled converters immediately and call General Electric at (800) 729-4399 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday. Consumers will be instructed on how to return the product for a free replacement.
GE has received one report of a loose ground plug. No injuries have been reported.
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Related Recalls
The power strips do not contain supplementary overcurrent protection, which creates a risk of fire if the power strips are overloaded. The resulting fire can cause serious injury or death from smoke inhalation and burns.
The recalled LED lights violate the mandatory standard for consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries because they contain lithium coin batteries that can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the LED lights do not have the warnings as required by Reese’s Law. When children swallow button cell or coin batteries, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, and death, posing an ingestion hazard to children.
The recalled headbands violate the mandatory standard for consumer products with button cell and coin batteries because the button cell batteries in the headbands can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the packaging and product do not have the warnings required under Reese’s Law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, and death.
The power strips have an ungrounded metal enclosure that poses an electrocution hazard if energized, resulting in serious injury or death.
The lithium-ion batteries installed in the lanterns can overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
The chargers can explode while in use, posing a fire and burn hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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