The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Battery-Biz have announced a recall of about 10,000 "Hi-Capacity" notebook computer batteries. The batteries may have an internal short that can cause the batteries to severely overheat, which poses a fire hazard. The company and the CPSC ask that consumers using such batteries cease using them immediately, and contact Battery-Biz at 800-780-6552 for a free replacement. The company has received six reports of the batteries overheating and melting.

The recalled batteries are lithium ion, and bear the brand "Hi-Capacity", and sold for between $70 and $199. The batteries were sold by national and regional companies, and online, between January 2004 and May 2005, and fit a large variety of notebook computer brands and models. The batteries are labeled as manufactured and assembled in China, Korea, or Taiwan.

According to the CPSC, consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Battery-Biz to arrange for a free replacement battery. Users should remove the recalled battery from their notebook computer, and use the computer's AC power adapter until the battery can be replaced.

Consumers who believe that they may have a recalled battery can contact the company at (800) 780-6552 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or check the Hi-Capacity web site at www.hi-capacity.com/exchange to check the battery's serial number and apply for a replacement unit.

RECALLED "HI-CAPACITY" BRAND BATTERIES

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