Recall: Rechargeble battery packs for cordless tools due to explosion danger

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall alert for 111,800 Rayovac NI-CD Cordless Tool Battery Packs. The rechargeable batteries, distributed by BatteriesPlus LLC, of Hartland, Wis., can unexpectedly explode and poses a risk of serious injuries to consumers, warns the CPSC.

According to the announcement, BatteriesPlus has received five reports of exploding batteries. No consumer injuries have been reported to either the company or the CPSC.

The recall involves Rayovac-branded rechargeable batteries for cordless tools. They were sold in various sizes and shapes with various voltage ratings, ranging from 2.4 to 18 volts. They were also sold as replacement batteries for cordless tools made by Black and Decker, Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Panasonic, Ryobi and Skil.

All of the recalled Rayovac batteries were sold nationwide at retail stores and online at www.batteriesplus.com between June 2008 and October 2011 for about $60.

Consumers can further identified the recalled batteries by the "cordless tool designation" code, printed in white lettering on the battery. The issue affects only Rayovac batteries manufactured prior to October 2010 with one of the following codes:

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the batteries and remove the faulty battery packs from the cordless tools.

Consumers can contact BatteriesPlus (toll-free: 877-856-3232, e-mail: productrecall 'at' batteriesplus.com) for more information—including instructions on how to return the recalled rechargeable Rayovac batteries for credit.

BatteriesPlus Recalls Replacement Battery Packs Used with Cordless Tools Due to Explosion Hazard [CPSC]
Important Safety Recall (PDF) [BatteriesPlus]
Recall Notices/Bulletins [BatteriesPlus]

—Paul Eng