Chris Stevenson Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Has anyone received a replacement Futaba charger after the original one was withdrawn for safety reasons? I contacted Ripmax on 27th July after reading in the mag that they would replace foc. In spite of several reminders I am still waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 This only covered a couple of variants Part numbers: P-FBC30D/4 and P-FBC35D/4 and P-FBC32D/4 You don't just email Ripmx though and ask for a new one. The product recall stated that you return the charger to the place you purchased it for an exchange, Ripmax will then send the new one to the dealer. More details on the procedure here: http://www2.ripmax.net/Notice_FBC32D_Recall.aspx Edited By John F on 28/11/2014 07:40:48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Stevenson Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 As a trip to my local dealer is an 80 mile round trip I contacted Ripmax, as per the recall and they helpfully put my name down for a replacement, even filling in a claim form for me. I have been promised one "in the next few weeks" several times now but nothing has materialised. I just wondered if anyone out there was in a similar position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Dam I just bought one of these on the 18th this month Do I need to worry ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Stevenson Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 Only if it is one of the no's in John F's post. They are the only one's affected, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Mines this one, bought it from Slough. http://www2.ripmax.net/Notice_FBC32D_Recall.aspx Edited By trebor on 28/11/2014 10:04:14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 If you are sure that it is exactly the model in the recall notice then contact Slough immediately - they should not have sold it to you - obviously an oversight. If it is the recalled one I'm sure they will change it straight away. Don't worry too much about this - if I recollect correctly the "fault" is really very minor. I think it has to do with there is minimum distance between the edge of the mains plug and the two main power pins on the plug and this particular charger's plug unit has that distance a few hundreths of an inch too small! But of course rules are rules - it is below the minimum distance - but you'd need a good vernier gauge to know so! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 I think, trebor, you need to decide for yourself, but if you've just bought it new then a trip, or call, to the retailer would certainly be in order. The defects do seem as BEB says to be a bit "picky", but obviously "rules is rules" and Ripmax (or anybody else) aren't going to publicly say "Don't worry, keep on using it, they're only minor problems". And I'm no saying that either, even if I might think that! The text of the recall notice is as follows; Basis of check: Consumer Protection Act 1987, General Product safety regulations 2005. The Regulation of Accreditation and market Surveillance (EC/765/EC) Applicable Standards: BS1363-1: 1995 + A4: 2012, EN60950-1: 2006 + A12: 2011 Details: As part of their market surveillance process, Trading Standards have tested the above charger and found it to be unsafe and pose serious risk of electric shock and fire because of the following factors relating to BS1363-1. Test results:- The thickness of the live and neutral pins was found to be up to 0.23mm oversize. The breadth of the live and neutral pins was found to be up to 0.12mm oversize The insulated shutter device (ISOD) was found to be 0.03mm over height and 0.01mm over thickness. The disposition of the plug pins was found to require a force in excess of 10N (the maximum) to insert it in a socket and remove it. With a force of 10N it would not fully engage. When inserted in a special measuring gauge, the live and neutral pins were too short. The live and neutral pins were found to be too close to the edge of the periphery of the engagement face by 4.66mm. Conclusion:- Excessive force was required to insert the charger into, and remove it from, a socket. This could cause damage to the socket and the shutter system and/or cause mechanical damage to the charger that could result in live parts being exposed, with the risk of causing an electric shock. Could cause overheating or arcing within the socket creating a risk of fire. Could lead to inadvertent contact with the live parts of the pins when inserting the charger into, or removing from, a socket. Action: If you have purchased one of these chargers on its own or as a component of a another product, stop using it immediately and please return it as soon as possible to the dealer that you bought it from. Ripmax will arrange to send the dealer a new replacement as soon as they are available from the manufacturer. It is not possible to give a timescale for this as it involves a tooling change before production can be planned, but we are trying to keep it under 6 weeks. Issued: 3rd April 2014 Edited By John Privett on 28/11/2014 10:37:26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 I phoned them and was told not to worry as it was a recent purchase mine is ok ! so they say ! Was that the official date of posting the recall 03. 04. 14 ? Edited By trebor on 28/11/2014 11:03:16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Posted by trebor on 28/11/2014 11:02:56: Was that the official date of posting the recall 03. 04. 14 ? Well that's the date they show at the foot of the recall notice. It might not have appeared on the website immediately, but I wouldn't expect it to be much more than a couple of days later. [UPDATE] The first mention I can see of this on here was on 6th April, so it was obviously posted on their website by then. Edited By John Privett on 28/11/2014 11:15:07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Called Ripmax and was told any bought now will be ok, the replacements have the same part numbers on them and look identical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 How can they give it the same part number if it's modified? Surely they would add a suffix or something to the part number! If it's got the same number unless it also has a serial number nobody can ever tell if it's legally safe or not - now or in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Posted by trebor on 28/11/2014 11:38:27: Called Ripmax and was told any bought now will be ok, the replacements have the same part numbers on them and look identical. How can they say that, they have no idea how long LMS's have held the stock for!!! It might be 1 Week, 1 Month or 1 year old!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Whybrow Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Posted by trebor on 28/11/2014 11:38:27: Called Ripmax and was told any bought now will be ok, the replacements have the same part numbers on them and look identical. Given that one of the dimensional non-conformances was almost 5mm, I would be very surprised if the replacement device looks identical. Posted by kc on 28/11/2014 12:24:59: How can they give it the same part number if it's modified? Surely they would add a suffix or something to the part number! If it's got the same number unless it also has a serial number nobody can ever tell if it's legally safe or not - now or in the future. Yes, they should clearly identify the new units either by a change of model number or by a mod strike / version number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 That`s what I was thinking I will only use mine when I can keep an eye on it. Got to say it makes a small beeping noise that could drive me crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 I looked up the Ripmax recall notice and found that there is another one with two other part numbers that were recalled on 27 th June 2014. I thought I should check my own charger --amazingly it is one that is recalled! I bought this with a 6EX 2.4 Tx &Rx on 31st Dec 2009! So this problem goes back years and they still have not resolved it. There must be a huge number of Futaba 6EX 2.4 that were sold since 2009 and these may all have the same type of charger. I wonder what i am supposed to do as the model shop that sold it has been closed for well over a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony K Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Posted by kc on 28/11/2014 12:54:42: I wonder what i am supposed to do as the model shop that sold it has been closed for well over a year. Cut the plug off and fit a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Whybrow Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 As I mentioned in a previous thread, the supplier that sold me my 6EX can't even be bothered to deal with my request for a replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Had anther look and compared mine with the one mentioned. Slight differences in case. One on recall picture The one I got a week ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony K Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Ah, I see the problem now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Yep, as you'd expect they've made the plate behind the pins a bit bigger. But why the heck are they using the same part number? I guess the '/4' at the end identifies the UK version and Euro and US variants are perhaps /1, /2 etc. So why not make the revised one /4a or something. Then people would know immediately if they had a new one or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Really the importer of the charger should have ensured they complied with standards when they first imported them and clearly this was 5 years ago at least. It is 'CE' marked so surely someone has to verify this? This type of mains plug power supply is usually the weakest part of any item, they usually fail altogether. Lots of household items have stopped working due to this type of part. Obviously I am not going to stop using the charger and therefore stop flying until Ripmax get around to replacing it. if they take many months then probably the nicads ( NimH probably ) would get beyond recharging anyway! So I will continue to use it but keep a close eye on it whilst charging. I expect almost everyone else will do likewise, but we should press Ripmax to replace them quickly. If not perhaps we should contact BBC Watchdog or the Consumers Association / Which? to get some attention. I just wonder whether we have a case for having the whole radio ( TX, Rx, charger & servos etc ) refunded or replaced if a vital part is unsafe and the retailers or importers do not replace it promptly. Edited By kc on 28/11/2014 15:59:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Stevenson Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 My new charger has arrived, just in time for Christmas, 5 months after requesting a replacement. It is part no P-FBC30D/4. The same as the faulty one, so how does one tell them apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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