Extech Instruments Recalls Digital Clamp and Multimeters Due to Electrocution Hazard

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Dec 14, 2010, 11:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of products: Digital clamp meters and multimeters

Units: 5,100 units

Manufacturer: Extech Instruments, of Waltham, Mass.

Hazard: When the battery runs low, the meters can fail to give an accurate voltage reading, resulting in the operator falsely believing the electrical power is off or low. This poses an electrocution hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Extech received one report of a meter displaying an incorrect voltage reading. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Extech digital clamp meters with model numbers EX612, EX613, EX622 and EX623 and multimeters with model numbers EX540, EX542 and EX570. "Extech" and the model number can be found on the front of the product and the serial number on the rear. Serial numbers that begin with "A" are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Industrial and electrical distributors and wholesalers nationwide and at online tool and test equipment retailers from January 2008 to November 2010 for between $150 and $300.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled digital clamp meters and multimeters and contact Extech for a free replacement meter.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Extech toll-free at (855) 239-8324 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company's website at http://www.extech.com/recall.

Photos are available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11067.html.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.