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Ocean Technology Systems Recalls Underwater Communication Devices Due to Fire Hazard

Underwater Communication Devices

Date of Recall

2022-07-28

CPSC Release Number

22-191

Manufactured In

United States

Units

About 500 (In addition, about 36 were sold in Canada)

Manufacturer

Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, California

Importer

Recalled lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of in accordance with any local and state ordinances, following the procedures established by your municipal recycling center for damaged/defective/recalled lithium batteries, because these potentially hazardous batteries must be handled differently than other batteries. Do not throw this recalled battery in the trash. Do not deposit this recalled battery in used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.

Sold By

Blue Dolphin Dive Shop (North Carolina), Performance Scuba (Alabama) Lauderdale Marine Center (Florida), Mountain West Commercial Diving (Idaho), and other dive shops and municipalities nationwide and online at www.otscomm.com from January 2021 through April 2022 for between $1,650 and $3,600.

Problem/Hazard

Water can leak into the recalled underwater communication device during a dive and penetrate into the battery pack, causing the battery circuit board to short and ignite after the dive, posing a fire hazard.

Injuries/Incidents

The firm has reported one small fire with the battery's PC circuit board during testing. No injuries have been reported.

Description

This recall involves the PowerCom 3000D, 5000D and MilCom 6000D underwater communication devices sold with the RBLi-4 Lithium battery pack and the batteries that are also sold separately. The PowerCom, MilCom and RBLi-4 products are used in all SCUBA diving. The recalled RBLi-4 battery packs are in a waterproof housing and supply power to the PowerCom and MilCom products. PowerCom and MilCom along with the model numbers are printed on the front of the underwater communication devices.