Water can leak into the device during a dive and penetrate into the battery pack, causing the battery circuit board to short and ignite after the dive.
The firm has reported one small fire with the battery’s PC circuit board during testing. No injuries have been reported.
This recall involves the PowerCom 3000D, 5000D, and MilCom 6000D underwater communication devices sold with the RBLi-4 Lithium battery pack and the batteries that are also sold separately. The PowerCom, MilCom and RBLi-4 products are used in all SCUBA diving.
The recalled RBLi-4 battery packs are in a waterproof housing and supply power to the PowerCom and MilCom products. PowerCom and MilCom, along with the model numbers, are printed on the front of the underwater communication devices.
The underwater communication devices, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Blue Dolphin Dive Shop (North Carolina), Performance Scuba (Alabama), Lauderdale Marine Center (Florida), Mountain West Commercial Diving (Idaho), and other dive shops and municipalities nationwide and online at www.otscomm.com from January 2021, through April 2022, for between $1,650 and $3,600.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled communication devices, remove the battery, and contact the firm to receive a free battery pack that has been sealed to prevent water leakage.
The firm will provide instructions for properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries according to federal and state regulations.
Consumers may contact Ocean Technology Systems at (800) 550-1984 from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT) Monday through Thursday and from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PT) on Friday, by email at salessupport@oceantechnologysystems.com, or online for more information.