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Product recall · CPSCAugust 21, 2014Serious
SolarWorld Solar Systems with Copper Grounding Lugs Due to Electrocution, Electric Shock or Fire Hazard
Check whether yours is affected, then follow the instructions below.
What’s wrong
SolarWorld solar panels installed with bare-copper grounding lugs can corrode which could result in a faulty ground circuit, posing an electric shock, electrocution or fire hazard.
The Recall Registry rates this serious — Fire or burn risk.
What it looks like
Photos help. Identifiers decide. Appearance can vary by color, finish or packaging. Confirm the model number, date code or other identifier in the official notice.
Recall image provided by CPSC
What to do
Customers may be able to identify from the ground whether a tin-coated lug (silver) or a bare-copper lug (brown) has been used on their solar panels. Consumers who can identify the improper lugs should contact SolarWorld for replacement. If customers cannot determine which grounding lugs were used, they should contact SolarWorld to have an authorized SolarWorld agent inspect the installation and replace the lugs with tin-coated grounding lugs or equally safe alternative remedy at no cost to consumers. SolarWorld is requesting that distributors and others remove SolarWorld's installation instructions dated before June 2014 from their websites or other commercial information sources.
Who to contact: Contact SolarWorld toll-free at (877) 360-1787 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.solarworld-usa.com and click on the "Product Safety" tab for more information.
The product
This recall includes SolarWorld solar systems installed with bare-copper grounding lugs installed after June 1, 2010. These solar systems use energy from the sun to generate electricity within a system circuit. The installation instructions for SolarWorld solar systems sold after June 1, 2010 called for the use of GBL-4DB lugs for grounding. SolarWorld has revised these installation instructions to explicitly call for tin-coated lugs, specifically Ilsco part number GBL-4DBT. "T" is for tin-coated and indicated by the silver color of the lug.
Details
- Units affected
- About 1.3 million in the U.S. and 210,000 in Canada
- Recall date
- August 21, 2014
- Made or distributed by
- SolarWorld Americas, of Camarillo, California, a subsidiary of SolarWorld AG, of Bonn, Germany.
- Injuries reported
- None reported
- What has been reported
- The firm has received one report of corrosion related to the bare copper lugs. No injuries have been reported.
GBL-4DBT
SolarWorld installers and distributors, or other distribution companies from June 2011 to June 2014 for about $1,000 to $10,000 depending on system size.
The official notice
This recall was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Recall Registry summarises it — always confirm the details at the source.
Their exact wording: “SolarWorld Recalls Solar Systems with Copper Grounding Lugs Due to Electrocution, Electric Shock or Fire Hazard”
Worried about the other things in your house? You can write down what you have and be told if one is recalled — or, if you sell second-hand, check your whole stock at once.
Filed under: Everything else