myCharge Powerbanks Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

The 67,000 devices were sold at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and other outlets and should be returned for a full refund

4 myCharge batteries that are recalled by the CPSC Source: CPSC

After reports of injuries and property damage due to overheating lithium-ion batteries, myCharge has issued a recall for 67,000 powerbanks sold online and through popular retail channels. Consumers can contact the company for a full refund plus a 25 percent bonus.

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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 30 reports of the powerbanks overheating and/or igniting. Those incidents have resulted in seven injuries to consumers that include burns to the upper body, hands, legs, and/or feet. The CPSC also received reports of property damage to household flooring, walls, and furniture.

Consumers should stop using the devices immediately and contact the manufacturer to receive a refund. The powerbanks, which can be used to power small electronic devices via a USB interface, were sold in 2019 on the myCharge website and at popular retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

The Details

Models involved: This recall involves seven myCharge powerbank models used for powering and recharging electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, and e-readers. 

The list includes the following models:
Adventure Mega, model AVC20KG-A with date codes 2818, 3718, 4018, or 4518;
Adventure Mega C, model AVCQC20KG-A with date code 2818;
Razor Mega, model RZ20KK-A with date codes 3818, 4118, 4418, 4918, or 1719;
Razor Mega C, model RZQC20KK-A with date code 3818;
Razor Super, model RZ24NK-A with date code 0319;
Razor Super C, model RZQC24NK-A with date codes 3319 or 3519;
Razor Xtreme, model RZPD26BK-A with date codes 2818, 3718, or 3918.

The units have a blue, black, or gray anodized metallic case with “myCharge” written on the front.

The model name can be found on the back and on the bottom panel of the product packaging. In most cases, the date code is printed on the packaging and the product case. On the Adventure Mega and Adventure Mega C models, it’s printed on the underside of a flap on top of the product case.

The models were priced between $70 and $100 and sold from August 2018 through December 2019 in stores including Best Buy, Brainstorm, Hirsch Gifts, Hudson News, InMotion, Lapine, Power Sales, Projector World, and Target, and through the U.S. Marine Corps/Navy Exchange. Online vendors include Amazon, mycharge.com, and target.com.

The problem: The lithium-ion battery in the powerbanks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards and a risk of property damage.

The fix: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled powerbanks and contact myCharge for instructions on how to return the battery and obtain a refund. The refund will come in the form of an electronic voucher for the full purchase price plus a 25 percent bonus that can be redeemed on mycharge.com.

How to contact the manufacturer: Call myCharge toll-free at 888-251-2026 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or email the company at compliance@mycharge.com. To process your refund online, go to mycharge.com/pages/productsafety or mycharge.com and click on “Product Safety” at the bottom of the page for more information.

CPSC recall number: 22-009

Allen St. John

I believe that technology has the power to change our lives—for better or for worse. That's why I’ve spent my life reporting and writing about it for outlets of all sorts, from newspapers (such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times) to magazines (Popular Mechanics and Rolling Stone) and even my own books ("Newton’s Football" and "Clapton’s Guitar"). For me, there's no better way to spend a day than talking to a bunch of experts about an important subject and then writing a story that'll help others be smarter and better informed. 

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