Electric breakers recalled

Staff

The Electrical Safety Authority has joined forces with Schneider Electric to issue a product safety notice to members of the public who have purchased and installed an Arc Fault.
Circuit Interrupter between March 2004 and September 2004 manufactured by Schneider Electric under the brand names Federal Pioneer and Square D. These breakers may be further identified by a blue push-to-test button. Replacement breakers will have a round green sticker or a green push-to-test button. This new technology has been developed to offer homeowners a circuit breaker option that will detect and react to arc faults that could lead to electrical fires in your home. Unfortunately, it has been identified that these products are not functioning to plan and will not detect an arc fault. However, the short circuit and overload protection functions of these circuit breakers continue to function properly. This means that the circuit breakers will continue to provide the same level of protection offered by a standard circuit breaker.
The manufacturer is re-issuing the product and would like to ask homeowners who have purchased and installed these products to contact them at 1(800) 565-6699 or visit www.schneider-electric.ca to arrange for their existing product to be replaced. Consumers should push the test button on their AFI devices in their electrical panel. If the test does not interrupt the power to the circuit, a qualified electrical contractor should be called to determine if the breaker is affected and if required, replace the breaker. Schneider Electric apologizes for the inconvenience and would like to let the public know that “the new Arc
Fault Circuit Interrupter will be provided and installed by a licensed Electrician at no cost to the homeowner.”