AC Adapters Recalled by Digital Equipment
Home product recall 97-183. Announced by CPSC on Sep 3, 1997.
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The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Sep 3, 1997. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.
Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
Electrocution/Electric Shock
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Which ones are recalled?
AC Adapters Recalled by Digital Equipment NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 Note: Firm, phone number change. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 Originally issued September 4, 1997; Revised January 18, 2002 CPSC CONTACT: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076 Release # 97-183 CPSC, Digital Equipment Corp. Announce Recall of AC Adapters for Notebook Computers WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Digital Equipment Corp. of Maynard, Mass., is voluntarily recalling AC adapters used with its HiNote VP 500 series notebook computer. About 20,000 of these adapters were sold in the U.S. The AC adapters’ connector contact pins can break off from the adapter and remain in the power cord, posing a shock hazard. The connector pins connect the AC adapter to the AC power cord. CPSC and Digital Equipment Corp. are not aware of any injuries involving these AC adapters. Digital is aware of eight incidents of a pin breaking off inside the power cord, one in the U.S., four in Australia, two in Canada and one in Asia. These gray AC adapters come with HiNote VP 500 series of notebook computers. The adapters are 4 inches long by 2.25 inches wide, and have a 4 foot power cord attached. They can be identified by part numbers 30-47941-01 Rev. A01 or 30-47941 Rev. B01 which appears on the bar code label. Commercial dealers nationwide sold the AC adapters with the Digital HiNote VP 500 series from September 1996 through August 1997. These adapters also were sold separately by Digital or its commercial dealers. Consumers should stop using these AC adapters immediately and contact the company to receive a free replacement adapter, as well as instructions for safe use of the computer. As Digital has been bought out by Compaq, call Compaq at 800-225-5385. The Digital HiNote VP 500 series notebook computer is not included in this recall.
HiNote notebook computer AC adapters.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Who made and sold it?
- Made by Digital Equipment.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
- The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.