Brunton Outdoors Recalls Battery Packs Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Brunton-Outdoors-Recalls-Battery-Packs/ 

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Rechargeable battery packs

Hazard: The power packs' lithium ion polymer batteries can overheat and catch on fire during charging, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Refund

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled power packs and contact Brunton for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: Brunton Outdoor at 800-443-4871 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.brunton.com and click on Impel Charger Product Recall the top or bottom of the page for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 1,050 in the U.S. (in addition, about 40 were sold in Canada)

Description: This recall involves Brunton's Impel and Impel 2 rechargeable, portable battery packs that are used to charge cell phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. The Impel battery came in a rubberized shell in dark gray with orange or blue and the Impel 2 in light gray with black trim. The battery packs can be plugged into an A/C wall outlet, a 12 volt car charger or an attachable solar panel for recharging. They measure about 7.5 inches long by 7 inches wide by 1 inch thick. The lithium ion polymer battery packs have 16, and 19 volt outputs and a USB port. The Impel model also has a 12 volt output. Brunton is embossed on the top of the battery pack, along with the power button and five LED lights.  

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reports of battery packs overheating and catching on fire; with one incident resulting in about $25,000 of property damage and another one in a garage burning down with property and smoke damage to the adjacent residence. No injuries have been reported.

Sold by: Adorama, Austin Canoe & Kayak, Moontrail, REI, The Clymb and other outdoor equipment retailers nationwide and online at www.amazon.com, www.backcountry.com, www.bhphotovideo.com, www.forestry-suppliers.com, and www.opticsplanet.com from February 2011 through May 2015 for about $300.

Importer: Brunton Outdoor Inc., of Louisville, Colo.

Manufactured in: China

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/57888r-eng.php

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: 301-504-7908
Spanish: 301-504-7800

Recall Number: 16-148

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov