Is Your Fluke Clamp Meter on the Recall List?

A recent recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission includes certain models of clamp meters manufactured by Fluke Corporation and sold in the U.S. This article provides a brief summary that will help fill you in on the details of this recall.

Are you an electrician, electrical engineer, or service technician who uses a Fluke Digital Clamp Meter as part of your everyday work tasks? If so, you are probably aware of recall notice # 09-222 issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission involving certain models of these electrical measuring devices. If by chance you have not heard about the recall however, here are the details.

On May 15, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with Fluke Corporation of Everett Washington announced a voluntary recall of fifty-two thousand (52,000) models of digital clamp meters. These devices were manufactured by Fluke Corporation and sold in the U.S. by industrial distributors, electrical wholesalers and hardware stores in 2008 and 2009. Prices of these models ranged from about $150 to $375 U.S. dollars.

Consumers who use these meters are urged to stop using the recalled products immediately and contact Fluke Corporation to receive a free replacement unit.

These devices were put on the recall list because of a potential hazard associated with their use. The hazardous condition mentioned in the recall notice relates to a short circuit connection on the circuit board of the instrument that could cause a meter to give an incorrect voltage readout. An erroneous readout could lead the user to falsely believe that the electrical power is off when it is not – thereby creating a risk of shock, electrocution or thermal burn.

There have been three reports of incorrect voltage readouts by users of these meters, although no reports of injuries. However, the potential risk of injury was great enough that the recall notice was issued for these products.

Models included in the recall are models, 333, 334, 335, 336, and 337. The model number could also be followed by an “A,” (i.e. 333A, 336A, etc.). Serial numbers with the suffix "R" or the prefix "S" are not included in this recall. The model number can be found on the front; the serial number can be found on the back. Body color of devices are red, yellow and black.

Following is a list of serial numbers of affected devices:

Model 333: Serial numbers beginning with 97010000, ending with 98880240.

Model 334: Serial numbers beginning with 97010000, ending with 98870101.

Model 335: Serial numbers beginning with 97010000, ending with 98860104.

Model 336: Serial numbers beginning with 96220000, ending with 98900400.

Model 337: Serial numbers beginning with 96070000, ending with 98890607.

If you believe you have one of these Fluke clamp meters, or need more information about the recall, you can call Fluke Corporation toll-free at (888) 983-5853 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. You can also reach the page the company set up for the recall at http://us.fluke.com/usen/Support/Safety/33X-Recall.htm.