IBM is recalling about 225,000 AC power adapters for its laptop computers due to concerns about possible fire and electrical shock hazards.
In an announcement yesterday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in Washington said the parts being recalled are 56-watt AC power adapters that were shipped primarily with IBM ThinkPad i Series, 390 and 240 Series, and S Series notebook computers. The affected adapters have three hollow pins at the AC inlet and Part No. 02K6549 on a label on the top of the unit. The IBM logo appears on top of the unit.
Adapters with solid pins aren't included in the recall, according to the CPSC.
Consumers should stop using the power adapters immediately and contact IBM for free replacements, according to the agency.
The affected power adapters were manufactured by Delta Electronics Inc. in Taipei, Taiwan.
The units are being recalled after at least six incident reports were received by the CPSC about overheating that can cause damage to the circuit board and melt through the housing, which poses a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers. Minor property damage resulted from some of the reported incidents, according to the agency. No injuries have been reported.
The power adapters were sold with IBM ThinkPad computers from January 1999 through August 2000 and were also sold as an accessory.
For more information on the recall, contact IBM at (800) 410-5629 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday, or log onto IBM's replacement unit Web site at www.AdapterProgram.com.