November 24, 2022: Australia’s client watchdog issued a warning on November 21 about “doubtlessly deadly” defective batteries in residential vitality storage techniques, after Korea’s LG Vitality Resolution launched the newest product recall on account of security fears.
The Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee mentioned it had contacted virtually 5,000 households that will have techniques with “harmful LG photo voltaic batteries”.
ACC deputy chair Delia Rickard mentioned: “We stay involved in regards to the fireplace dangers posed by defective batteries, please act rapidly.”
“Sadly, since October 2019 there have been 9 reported incidents involving all these batteries in Australia leading to property injury and one damage. We don’t wish to see any extra incidents or accidents.”
The ACC mentioned the batteries, which might be branded LG, SolaX, Opal, Redback, Purple Earth, Eguana, and VARTA, can overheat and catch fireplace. The affected ESS house batteries had been equipped nationwide from Might 15, 2017 via varied residential photo voltaic vitality storage system retailers, installers and distributors.
About 2,900 batteries have been changed or faraway from customers’ possessions, in response to the ACC. An extra 1,400 batteries are switched off or their most charging capability is lowered to 75% to scale back the chance of overheating whereas ready for a alternative or refund.
In the meantime, LG instructed the ACC that it was conscious of about 10,000 extra batteries that had been prone to overheating. To deal with this danger, LG suggests putting in diagnostic software program to determine and shut harmful batteries, which might be changed freed from cost.
ACC mentioned electrical security regulators are assessing LG’s proposed diagnostic software program treatment.
LG Vitality Resolution Australia is conducting the protection recall, which the corporate says applies to sure residential vitality storage system batteries with cells manufactured between March 29, 2017 and September 13, 2018. The primary recall was issued in February 2021.
Earlier this November, LG instructed the ACC of a further recall, relating to batteries with cells manufactured between January 21, 2016 to March 28, 2017, or between September 14, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
ACC advises all customers to verify the LG remembers web site for particulars.
