Ocean Technology Systems Recalls Underwater Communication Devices for Fire Hazard
Ocean Technology Systems is recalling about 500 underwater communication devices (PowerCom and MilCom models) with RBLi-4 lithium battery packs because water can leak into the battery pack and cause the circuit board to short and ignite after diving, posing a fire hazard.
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 hazard involves fire risk from battery short-circuit and ignition, which poses a clear risk of harm. Although one small fire was observed during testing, no consumer injuries or deaths have been reported. This meets the criterion for High severity: a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported.
Plain-English summary
Ocean Technology Systems, based in Santa Ana, California, is recalling about 500 PowerCom 3000D, 5000D, and MilCom 6000D underwater communication devices sold with RBLi-4 Lithium battery packs, as well as RBLi-4 battery packs sold separately. These devices are used in SCUBA diving.
Water can leak into the communication device during a dive and penetrate the battery pack, causing the battery circuit board to short and ignite after the dive. The firm reported one small fire with the battery's PC circuit board during testing, though no injuries have been reported.
The devices were sold from January 2021 through April 2022 for between $1,650 and $3,600 at dive shops including Blue Dolphin Dive Shop (North Carolina), Performance Scuba (Alabama), Lauderdale Marine Center (Florida), Mountain West Commercial Diving (Idaho), other dive shops and municipalities nationwide, and online at www.otscomm.com. About 36 units were also sold in Canada.
Consumers should immediately stop using the devices, remove the battery, and contact the firm for a free replacement battery pack that has been sealed to prevent water leakage. The firm will provide instructions for proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Contact Ocean Technology Systems at 800-550-1984 (Monday–Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, Friday 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT), [email protected], or visit https://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/recall.
The recalled product
- Product
- Underwater Communication Devices
- Manufacturer
- Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, California
- Affected units
- 500
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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