If you own an AmazonBasics portable power bank you may want to pay attention. Amazon has issued a recall of some of its AmazonBasics portable power banks due to the potential of fire and chemical burn hazards. Amazon will offer a full refund for these power banks and there are about 260,000 affected units. According to Amazon, “the power bank’s battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards.”
This recall involves six versions of AmazonBasics portable lithium-ion battery chargers/power banks: 16,100 mAh; 10,000 mAh; 5,600 mAh; 2,000 mAh with micro USB cable; 3,000 mAh and 3,000 mAh with USB micro cable. The rubberized or metallic power banks are black and rectangular. They measure about 3 inches long by 1.4 inches high by 0.9 inches wide. The power banks were sold with or without a USB charger cable and a carrying pouch. The AmazonBasics logo is printed on the front of the unit. Product ID number B00LRK8EVO, B00LRK8HJ8, B00LRK8I7O, B00LRK8IV0, B00LRK8JDC or B00ZQ4JQAA is printed on the back of the unit.
Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the recalled power banks and contact Amazon for instructions on how to return the unit and receive a full refund. All known purchasers are being contacted directly by the firm. Amazon has received 53 reports of the power banks overheating in the U.S., including one report of chemical burns due to contact with battery acid and four reports of property damage, including fire and smoke damage.
The power banks are manufactured by Guoguang Electric Company Limited, of China for Amazon’s “Basics” program. The Basics program offers lower cost items similar to name brand items which they can do due to lower cost of manufacturing in China.
What do you think of this recall from Amazon? Do you own any of these power banks? Have you had issues with them? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
[button link=”https://www.cpsc.gov/recalls/2018/amazon-recalls-portable-power-banks-due-to-fire-and-chemical-burn-hazards-recall-alert#” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: CPSC[/button]
