Compaq Recalls 1.4 Million AC Adaptors

Compaq Computer is recalling 1.4 million notebook power adaptors because they may overheat and pose a fire risk. The company is offering replacement adapters free of charge.

Compaq says it shipped potentially defective AC adapters with multiple Armada models including the M300, 3500, E500s, M700, E500, V300, 100s, 110, and Prosignia models 170, 190, and 100.

The adapters were included with Compaq notebooks sold between September 1998 and July 2001. The adapters in question have serial numbers PPP003SD, PPP003, or PP2012.

The company says it shipped about 594,000 of the adapters in the United States. Compaq is conducting the recall in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Notebook owners who believe they may have faulty adapters can call Compaq at 888/302-7689 for more information, or they can visit a special page on the company's Web site for further instructions.

Compaq Plays It Safe

Although more than 1.4 million adapters are affected by the recall, Compaq says it has only received four reports of problems. However, the company staged the voluntary recall just to be on the safe side, according to Mike Hockey, a Compaq spokesperson.

"We are taking an abundance of caution and just want to make sure our customers are safe," Hockey says.

The problem stems from the possibility of electrical arcing occurring inside the faulty adapters, he says. That arcing can cause the plastic adapter to catch fire.

No one was injured in the four reported cases of problems with the adapters, according to Compaq.

Largest AC Adapter Recall

The Compaq recall represents the largest recall of notebook AC adapters ever in the United States, says Scott Wolfson, spokesperson for U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Earlier this year, Apple Computer recalled 570,000 AC adapters. In May 2000 IBM recalled 320,000 AC adaptors.

Delta Electronics manufactured the AC adaptors involved in the Compaq recall. The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer also produced the 320,000 defective IBM AC adapters.

This is not the first product recall affecting Compaq notebooks. In October 2000 the company recalled 55,000 Armada notebooks because of defective Sony battery packs that could short-circuit and cause fires.