Charger for sump pump system can catch fire

Monday, April 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Wisconsin company is recalling 29,000 chargers for sump pump batteries after finding the chargers can catch fire, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday.

Sta-Rite Industries received seven reports of battery chargers overheating or catching fire, four of which caught fire in homes and damaged the immediate area around the charger, the commission said. No injuries were reported.

The Delavan Wis.-based company has recalled chargers from the Flotec back-up sump pump system, model number FP2000DCC-02 or 2P667B, and the Sears back-up sump pump system, model number
390.306062. Brand names and model numbers can be found on the pump model plate. The part number on the charger is PS17-77 and can be found below the meter on the charger. The recall involves just the charger, not the sump pump.

Large and small home centers, auto parts and plumbing supply stores, including Sears, W.W. Grainger, Advanced Auto Parts, Home
Quarters, Home Depot and Hechinger sold the sump pump systems nationwide for about $200 from December 1994 through September
1997. The stores also sold the battery chargers as a replacement part for the systems for about $130.

Consumers should stop using the sump pumps with the recalled battery charger immediately and call 1-800-845-6541 anytime for a
replacement charger, the safety commission said.
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On the Web: Commission at http://www/cpsc.