The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·03068·Announced 2003-01-14

APC Recalls Back-UPS CS350 and CS 500 Power Supply Devices

American Power Conversion Corporation is recalling Back-UPS CS350 and CS 500 units due to overheating risks that may cause fire or property damage.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (fire hazard) where injury has not yet been reported, aligning with the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

American Power Conversion Corporation (APC) is recalling approximately 900,000 Back-UPS CS350 and Back-UPS CS 500 back-up power supply devices. The recall was initiated because the power supply devices can fail, causing the unit to overheat, which may pose a fire hazard to consumers.

APC has received six reports of units overheating, resulting in the melting of the unit's outer casing, and three reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported. The affected units were sold nationwide through retailers, computer and electrical distributors, and catalogs from November 2000 through December 2002 for between $70 and $130.

Consumers should immediately stop using the power supply devices by turning off the power to all connected equipment, turning the Back-UPS CS off, and then unplugging it from the electrical outlet. To obtain a free replacement unit, consumers should contact the company at (866) APC-RELY (272-7359) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at www.apc.com/rely.

The recalled product

Product
Back-UPS CS350 and Back-UPS CS 500 Back-up Power Supply devices
Manufacturer
American Power Conversion Corporation (APC), of West Kingston, R.I.
Category
Consumer Product — Power Supply
Hazard
Affected units
900,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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