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HP Recalls 6 Million Power Cables Over Fire Hazard

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the what's-that-smell? dept.

Via the Consumerist comes news that HP is recalling power cables after about 30 reports that they were melting from regular use. From the article: Hewlett-Packard received 29 reports of the melting or charring power cords, two that included claims of minor burns and 13 claims of minor property damage. The black power cords were distributed with HP and Compaq notebook and mini notebook computers and with AC adapter-powered accessories such as docking stations and have an "LS-15" molded mark on the AC adapter. About 5.6 million power cords were sold in the United States, while 446,700 were sold in Canada from September 2010 to June 2012 at electronic stores and hp.com.

5 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not the PSUs? The actual cables? by Narcocide · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Outsourcing.

  2. Re:Not the PSUs? The actual cables? by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 4, Informative

    With the limited info I have I would guess either a cheapskate manufacturer that tried to pass the wrong gauge of cable as the correct one or a crappy connection between a plug and the cable.
    In both cases the cable can't handle the current in a hot room and that could cause the insulation to melt. Especially when the cable is buried under a stack of nice insulating and flammable paper. Molten insulation doesn't stay in it's place, cables connect, short circuit and with the hot insulation (hot means more easily flammable) a flame is born.

    --
    Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  3. Re: 20 failures from 6 million power cords? recall by jones_supa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do still not forget that 20 is the amount who happened to run into problems and bothered to file a proper complaint. It is a hint that there might be actually thousands of faulty cables.

  4. Re: Not the PSUs? The actual cables? by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Informative

    How is "Pakis" offensive? It is clearly an abbreviation of "Pakistanis", and I assume you don't find the full word offensive.

    Because, as far as I've ever heard it, it's only ever used as a pejorative term, and definitely not as an endearing shortening of the word.

    I have never heard it as anything but derogatory.

    It's offensive, because that's how it's used.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. HPSupport transferred me to a car dealership in NY by coastal984 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I really wish I was making this up - I called asking about bulk replacement for my organization, and the email address they gave me was not working. So tier 1 said they would "transfer me to the team in charge of the recall." Well, I was connected with Scott, the service manager of a Chevrolet Dealership in upstate New York. Besides a good laugh, he obviously wasn't able to help me very much. *sigh*