Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI)
Check against the official notice below — it lists the full affected range.
Schneider Electric North American Division is recalling Square D QO® and Homeline® Arc Fault Interrupter circuit breakers used in 15- and 20-amp branch circuits, particularly in bedroom installations. An electronic component failure in these devices can prevent them from detecting electrical arcs that could cause fires, though they will continue to function as regular circuit breakers. The recalled units were manufactured after March 1, 2004, have a blue test button, and display one of these date codes in red on the breaker label: CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN. The affected catalog numbers are QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI.
According to the recall, consumers with installed recalled AFCIs should have them replaced free of charge by contacting electrical contractors. Consumers with uninstalled units can return them to the retailer or distributor where the unit was purchased for a free replacement.
Written by software from the official notice below. Not reviewed by a lawyer.
An AFCI is an electrical circuit protection device (circuit breaker) that detects electrical arcs from cracked, broken or damaged electrical insulation and shuts off power to the circuit before the arcing leads to a fire. An electronic component failure inside the AFCIs can cause the devices to not detect an electrical arc. Although the AFCIs will function as regular circuit breakers, they may not detect an arc fault, posing a safety risk to consumers.
Installed AFCIs will be replaced free of charge through electrical contractors. Consumers can return uninstalled AFCIs to the retailers or distributor from whom the unit was purchased for a free replacement unit.
The recalled Square D QO® and Homeline® Arc Fault Interrupter circuit breakers are used with 15- and 20-amp branch circuits. They are required to be installed in bedroom circuits in accordance with the 2002 National Electrical Code. The recalled units were manufactured after March 1, 2004, and have a blue test button. The AFCI circuit breakers have one of the following date codes - CN, DN, EN, FN, GN, HN, or JN - stamped in red on the breaker label located just above the wiring terminal. The recalled units also have one of the following catalog numbers printed on a label on the front of the breaker: QO115AFI, QO115AFIC, QO120AFI, QO120AFIC, QOB115AFI, QOB120AFI, HOM115AFI, HOM115AFIC, HOM120AFI, HOM120AFIC, QO115VHAFI, QO120VHAFI, QOB115VHAFI, or QOB120VHAFI.
Official record: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗
Republished from the official source above; details can change — the source record controls.