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XBox Power Cable Fire Hazard and Recall
hattig writes "According to BBC News Microsoft is to replace 14 million XBox power cables due to a fire hazard. XBoxes made before 23rd October 2003 or 13th January 2004 (Europe) require replacement." From the article: "The company said the move was a "preventative step" after reports of fire hazard problems with the cables."
I wouldn't expect anyone on Slashdot to RTFA, but it hasn't burned down any houses:
"In almost all instances, any damage caused by these failures was contained within the console itself or limited to the tip of the power cord at the back of the console."
But in seven cases, customers reported sustaining a minor burn to their hand.
In 23 cases, customers reported smoke damage, or minor damage to a carpet or entertainment centre.
Everything I have read has been fairly scarce on the details. So far I know that it has something to do with the power cord, and that when there have been problems, it has been contained to the console or power cord tip.
If it is something internal, I seriously don't think a new power cord is going to help (unless it has like a fuse inline or something and the console pulls to much when the thing starts to smoke).
Is it just a better connection? Were people having the cord come out slightly and arcing?
Let's say it happened when you weren't home. If the damage was great enough, you wouldn't know exactly what caused the fire. The fire fighters would probably call it an "electrical malfunctiion." Microsoft certainly wouldn't take responsibility without hard proof that an XBOX started a fire, and that would be very hard to get, because there is always other electrical appliances near an XBOX.
Scorching leads to burning.
As a previous poster claimed it happens all the time.
A google search of "electrical cord recall" nets 67,000 hits. On the first page you have Black & Decker, HP, and a petition for Apple to recall its power cord.
So all the MS haters blast away at their "incompetance" and attribute it to a massive anti-consumer rights conspiracy. Whatever. Just get a new cord and be quiet.
B O R I N G
Recalls happen all the time. In just about every industry. Exercise equipment, automobiles, televisions... you name it, there's been a recall. It happens.
It's not like there is a humongous danger. Nobody's house was burned down or car exploded, unlike several automobile types where a recall (faulty wiring in the ignition units and steering column pieces) only happened after lives were lost.
The facts are:
- The failure rate on these cords is listed as 1 in 10,000.
- The failure ONLY happens when the unit has been on for a ridiculously long time (read: someone just turned off the power-save feature and let the thing run all day and night).
- Seven people had minor burns from unplugging the cords while they were still hot.
- 23 people smelled smoke or had minor damage (likely plastic melting, which is what you'd expect when the low-grade plastics used in most entertainment centers comes in contact with an overheated wire) to their entertainment centers or carpet (likely synthetic carpet that melted).
I know, there are plenty of little trolls out there who hate MS, but seriously. They're doing the right thing and recalling the cords.
No, the fact that cords after October 23, 2003 aren't susceptible to this isn't an indication they knew about it - it could be a standard part of ongoing redesigns (which they do every few months to lower the production costs anyways). Or it could be that they went to a new vendor, who were making the cords to a higher standard or with a different process anyways.
Or it could simply be that they were investigating the CAUSE of the incidents before they did anything - after all, if the culprit were really the power supply, then replacing the cords wouldn't have done any good.
So come on. They're doing the right thing. Give them credit for doing it, in spite of the fact that the raving MS-hater lunatics are going to be spewing "OMG did yew see the xbox got recalled haha" all over chat boards for the next couple weeks, and move on.