Fire Hazard Prompts The Toro Company To Replace Cable Connectors Of Outdoor Light Power Packs

PRODUCT: Cable connectors of Toro and Lunalite brand outdoor lighting system 12-volt power packs. Affected Toro replacement power packs are 118-48, 118-DT, 118-IR, 160-IR, 52945, 52998, 52999, 52925, and 52927. Certain Lunalite original power packs rated at 108 or 118 watts distributed in 1986 and 1987 are affected.

PROBLEM: Corrosion of the cable connectors could cause overheating and melting of the wire insulation, possibly resulting in a short-circuit and fire.

WHAT TO DO: Toro is offering owners of affected products a repair kit. For more information, call 1-800-321-8676.

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Toro Company of Bloomington, MN today announced a repair program for the cable connectors of approximately 25,000 Toro and Lunalite brand outdoor lighting system 12-volt power packs. Toro found that corrosion of these cable connectors could cause overheating and melting of the wire insulation, possibly resulting in a short circuit and a fire if combustible materials were nearby. Toro informed CPSC of 26 overheating or fire incidents that were reported to the company by April 1992. None of these reported incidents resulted in injury.

The repair program includes the following nine Toro replacement power pack models distributed since January 1988: 118-48, 118-DT, 118-IR, 160-IR, 52945, 52998, 52999, 52925, and 52927. Toro original equipment is not affected. Also involved are certain Lunalite original power packs rated at 108 or 118 watts distributed in 1986 and 1987. These Lunalite power packs have a wiring connector located between the power pack and the first light. The Toro and Lunalite brand power packs were sold nationwide by a variety of retailers and Toro for $35 to $45.

Each power pack is designed to be installed on the outside wall of a house or garage near an electrical receptacle. The cable and one or more cable connectors for the outdoor lights are located below the power pack and on the ground.

Owners can identify potentially defective cable connectors by checking the back of the Toro replacement power pack for one of the above listed model numbers, or for the Lunalite brand name on the front of the original power pack with the 108 or 118 watt rating on the back and a wiring connector between the power pack and the first light. Consumers with affected units should call Toro at 1-800-321-8676. Toro will send owners installation instructions and a repair kit. For questions about installation, owners may call Toro at 1-612-887-7399. Owners should disregard this notice if they have already replaced their cable connectors with a Toro repair kit.

CPSC is announcing this repair program as part of its mission to protect the public from the unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.