In conjunction with Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), industry supplier Spector & Co. (asi/88660), based in Saint-Laurent, QC, has issued a voluntary recall of its Elf power banks (T119). The lithium ion battery inside each power bank can overheat while charging mobile phones and other devices, posing a fire hazard.

Elf power bank (T119)

So far, Spector & Co. has received two reports of the power banks overheating, though neither resulted in fire or property damage and no injuries have been reported. An estimated 4,500 were sold to U.S. distributors and about 2,600 to Canadian firms.

Manufactured in China, the power banks measure approximately 4” long by ¾” high by ¾” wide, and were available in gun metal, blue, black and red. Each has a color-matched end with a wire key loop. The words “5V OUT” and “5V IN” are printed in white on the top.

#RECALL: Do you have a T119 Elf power bank? Find out about the recall and what to do: https://t.co/1Yw3gq6F2v pic.twitter.com/hAGvTWlAOG

— GovCanHealth (@GovCanHealth) April 2, 2019

The power banks were mainly used as giveaways at meetings, trade shows and conventions between May 2016 and January 2019.

Chris Pearson, director of compliance for Spector, told ASI Canada that the affected products have been narrowed down to two batches, the second of which shipped in mid-December 2018. Only 3,000 units are currently in the field across both Canada and the U.S.

"We're controlling it by the logos that were imprinted on them," he said. "If a consumer sends us a photo of theirs, we can tell them if it's recalled because only specific logos were affected." Pearson also emphasized the importance of disposing of the power banks properly; lithium ion batteries can't be thrown in the trash, and instead must be taken to a local hazardous waste facility.

Recipients of the power banks are asked to stop use of them immediately and contact Spector & Co. for additional instructions on proper disposal and a free replacement. Spector can be contacted at (866) 215-7991 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or at recall@spectorandco.com. Additional information, including a contact form for affected consumers, is here.

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