Vantec computers and video games
2 reports to CPSC, the latest made Feb 11, 2015. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 2reports to CPSC
- Feb 11, 2015the latest report was made
- Jun 3, 2013the earliest
- 2with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Vantec
- Maker
- VANTEC THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES, INCMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Computers and video gamesComputers, their equipment and electronic gamesCPSC’s product type: Computers (Equipment and Electronic Games) (code 557), in Electronics: Computers, Monitors, Projectors
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| February 2015 | 1 |
| June 2013 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- No one hurt 1 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Feb 11, 2015, sent to the company Feb 23, 2015, published by CPSC Mar 10, 2015
The product, in the report: Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter Adapter to transfer data from an SATA or IDE hard drive to a computer using USB.
Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter
This product comes with a Flypower power supply, and an AC cable with a standard PC connector (IEC C13), which is labeled ‘10A 250V’ Mine began MELTING under a load of 2.6A 123V. 10A is the minimum legal rating, which usually requires at least 18AWG conductors, and this cable has those about the size of what you’d find in a USB cable. I have also received reports that [REDACTED] sells a similar USB hard drive adapter with the same problem.
There are no safety instructions whatsoever in the instructions manual, and Vantec’s reply to my email was, “This kit is designed for connecting one Hard drives. It is not intended other purpose.”. This clearly is not an acceptable excuse. I accidentally mixed this cable in with some other power cables, and when hooked up to a computer, the cable started melting within 5-10 minutes of operation. If I weren’t there watching it, it could have easily started a fire. [REDACTED], however, has contacted me by phone, saying that they are willing to work to resolve the issue.
Since I’ve already identified two products with similarly under spec cables, there are likely thousands out there in people’s homes. These types of power cables must be recalled, as well as any products that they are packaged with. It is impossible to tell the cables apart by look or feel, meaning the only way to avoid a potential disaster is for consumers to throw out all their C13 power cables and buy new ones.
Full details, including pictures with side-by-side comparisons between the faulty cable and a standards compliant one can be found on my blog at http://frysacidtest.com/?p=217
Amazon says they will take the product off the market in 7 days if they agree with my findings, UL says they have no interest since the cable itself is not marked with the (UL) logo, I have yet to hear back from NC’s Attorney General’s office. My blog received 30,000 hits in 1 day, and the YouTube video I made got 3,000 hits in 12 hours. Many people on Reddit have expressed concern that they have similar cables mixed in with good ones.
Please help me get these cables and any product that includes them off the market, before more damage is done.
I’m bipolar, and have been unable to sleep for at least 3 days, while I have been working 24hr/day trying to spread this message. Please let me know that this issue is being taken care of, because I’m unable to stop, in good conscience, until the matter is resolved.
Thank you.
-[REDACTED]
- Model
- CB-ISATAU2
- Bought from
- Amazon.com
- Bought
- Jan 9, 2015
- Where
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 37, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Vantec, made or sold by VANTEC THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Jun 3, 2013, sent to the company Jun 11, 2013, published by CPSC Jun 25, 2013
The product, in the report: Vantec Nexstar docking station for docking hard drives. The docking station was unaffected, but the cord it came with melted.
The cord heated up and melted. The cord was plugged into a UPS and sitting loosely on its own on metal wire shelving. It was not covered. The device was not powered on.
- Model
- JHS-E02AB02-W08B
- Where
- Canada: Other Public Property/
Office - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Vantec, made or sold by VANTEC THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.