Counterfeit Square D Breakers - Fire Hazard

[John McKenna]

Connecticut Electric Recalls Counterfeit Square D Circuit Breakers Due To Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Counterfeit "Square D" Circuit Breakers
Units: About 64,000
Distributor: Connecticut Electric & Switch Mfg. Co. (Connecticut Electric), of Puyallup, Wash.
Hazard: The recalled circuit breakers labeled “Square D” are counterfeit and could fail to trip when they are required to, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Connecticut Electric has not received any report of incidents or injuries associated with these counterfeit circuit breakers.
Description: The counterfeit circuit breakers are black and are marked as Square D products. Connecticut Electric has identified the following breakers as possibly being counterfeit: QO115, QO120, QO140, QO2125, QO215, QO220, QO230, QO240, QO250, QO260, QO1515, QO2020, QO3100, QO320, QO330, QO340, QO360, QOB120, QOB130, QOB220, QOB230, QOB250, QOB330, and QOB360. Actual Square D circuit breakers have (a) the amp rating written on the handle in white paint on the front of the breaker; (b) the Square D insignia molded onto the breaker side, and; (c) a yellow chromate mounting clip with half of the top of the clip visible. If your Square D breaker does not match this description, it could be counterfeit.
Sold through: Electrical Distributors and hardware stores nationwide from February 2005 through August 2006 for between about $6.50 and $15.50.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should contact Connecticut Electric to determine if the breaker they have is counterfeit and if necessary, to arrange for a free inspection and replacement or refund.
Consumer Contact: For more information, Call Connecticut Electric at (866) 264-3702 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company’s Web site at www.connecticut-electric.com. Consumers also can obtain additional information by emailing Connecticut Electric at bdunham@connecticut-electric.com.

Genuine Square D Circuit Breaker

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08054.html

[Paul W. Abernathy]

As a reminder -

Eaton ® produces a "Classified" breaker that is UL Listed for use in the Square D Panels...in both QO and HOM versions. Do not confuse the recall with these perfectly legal classified breakers.

The counterfeit ones try to pass themselves off as Sq D....thats the difference....

[Christopher Currins]

What is the identifying difference with the Sq. D?... I have a 200 amp panel full, some were added during the recall 'time' period.... Do you need to pull them out to tell?

[John McKenna]

Bump

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Connecticut Electric Recalls Counterfeit Square D Circuit Breakers Due To Fire Hazard

Description: The counterfeit circuit breakers are black and are marked as Square D products. Connecticut Electric has identified the following breakers as possibly being counterfeit: QO115, QO120, QO140, QO2125, QO215, QO220, QO230, QO240, QO250, QO260, QO1515, QO2020, QO3100, QO320, QO330, QO340, QO360, QOB120, QOB130, QOB220, QOB230, QOB250, QOB330, and QOB360. Actual Square D circuit breakers have (a) the amp rating written on the handle in white paint on the front of the breaker; (b) the Square D insignia molded onto the breaker side, and; (c) a yellow chromate mounting clip with half of the top of the clip visible. If your Square D breaker does not match this description, it could be counterfeit.

Does this (the "QO" numbers) mean that "HOM" breakers are not affected?