42,000 Outlet Converters Recalled for Shock and Fire Hazards
The converters' front outlet prongs are not configured correctly, resulting in reverse polarity when plugs are inserted and posing shock and fire hazards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Oct. 10.
Home Depot has recalled about 42,000 units of a commercial electric 15-amp triplex outlet converter, also known as taps, with model number LA-05 and UPC 818897010121 because the converters' front outlet prongs are not configured correctly, resulting in reverse polarity when plugs are inserted and posing shock and fire hazards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Home Depot announced Oct. 10.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled outlet converters and contact Home Depot for a full refund. CPSC reported the company has received one report of a consumer who was shocked while using an outlet converter.
The converters were sold exclusively at Home Depot stores nationwide and online at www.HomeDepot.com from February 2017 through July 2017 for about $5. The manufacturer is Ningbo Litesun Electric Co. Ltd., of China and they were imported by Home Depot Product Authority LLC, of Atlanta, Ga.
The white plastic converters convert a single electrical outlet into three outlets with an outlet plug on the left, front, and right side of the tap. The outlet taps are 1.7 inches tall, 1.3 inches wide, and 1.69 inches deep. On the front-facing outlet, neutral and line (power socket) sizes are reversed.
The model number is printed on the mold on the side where the prongs are located, and the UPC number is printed on a sticker on the top of the converter along with the UL listing.
To contact Home Depot toll free, call 877-527-0313 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Saturday, or visit www.homedepot.com and click on "Product Recalls" under customer service for more information.