Recall: Ideal Industries Inc. Voltage Tester Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2003 Release # 03-167

Company Phone Number: (877) 557-8598 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Ideal Industries Inc. Announce Recall of Voltage Testers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Ideal Solenoid Voltage Testers

Units: About 122,000

Manufacturer: Ideal Industries Inc., of Sycamore, Ill.

Hazard: These testers can short out at high voltages. Consumers can suffer burns.

Incidents/Injuries: Ideal has received 11 reports of these testers shorting out at higher voltages, resulting in the faceplate blowing off the units. Two users were burned when their units reportedly shorted out. One reportedly sustained third-degree burns on his hands, forearms, neck and face, while the other suffered second- and third-degree burns to his hands.

Description: These are Ideal voltage and voltage/continuity testers with model numbers 61-065, 61-066, 61-067, 61-076, 61-079, and 61-080. "IDEAL" and the model number are located on the front of the tester. The tester body is yellow. The wire leads have one black and one red test probe. Recalled units were manufactured between November 1999 and May 2002. Contact Ideal to determine if your electrical tester is included in this recall.

Sold at: Electrical distributors, industrial distributors and home centers nationwide between December 1999 and July 2003 for between $30 and $65.

Manufactured in: U.S.A. and Canada

Remedy: Contact Ideal to receive a free replacement tester.

Consumer Contact: Ideal toll-free at (877) 557-8598 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. Consumers also can access Ideal's Web site at www.idealindustries.com

Media Contact: Glenn Hollister, of Ideal Industries Inc., (815) 895-1307 and Jim MacMurdo, of Ideal Industries Inc., (815) 899-7779.