[ForSale-Swap] FYI--Recall of Fluke DMMs

[mcewenjv at songs.sce.com]

I realize this isn't a forsale/swap item, but I think it would be of
interest to some of the users of this mailing list.  Jim, KA6TPR

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2002
Release # 02-231  Fluke Recall Hotline: (800) 260-4819

CPSC, Fluke Corp. Announce Recall of Digital Multimeters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Fluke Corp., of Everett,
Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 40,000 digital multimeters. About
17,200 were sold in the U.S. Multimeters are used to
measure voltage, resistance and current. The recalled units can take longer
 than normal, up to 18 seconds, to display readings of AC voltages above
500 volts. Users can misinterpret the delayed reading to mean that high
voltage is not present.
If high voltage is present, users could be exposed to a risk of shock,
electrocution, and thermal burns.

Fluke has received four reports from Canada and Australia, in which users
experienced a delayed response while measuring
high voltage, though no injuries were reported.

The recalled Fluke digital multimeters measure up to 1,000 volts
alternating current (VAC) and direct current (VDC). "Fluke"
and "175", "177" or "179" are written on the front of the unit. The tester
body is yellow and black, and measures about
7.25-inches long by 3.5-inches wide. Recalled units have a serial number
below 79000000. The serial number is written on
the back of the instrument under the hinged stand. Home and hardware stores
 and industrial distributors nationwide sold these
testers from January 2001 through October 2001 for between $170 and $215.

Consumers should stop using these testers immediately and contact Fluke for
 information on returning the recalled unit for a
free repair. Consumers should call Fluke at (800) 260-4819 between 8 a.m.
and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or at the
Fluke Web site www.fluke.com/170recall.