Product  Safety  Letter

The following excerpt is from the "Product Safety Letter"  ( an independent weekly for executives concerned with consumer product regulation, legislation and standards. )  Vol. 25, No. 19 May 6, 1996.   Copyright 1996 by "Washington Business Information, Inc." ( this is based on a meeting at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offices in Bethesda, Maryland on April 29, 1996 ) CPSC URGES COMPANY TO SEEK UL APPROVAL OF PRODUCT CPSC encouraged a circuit breaker maker to seek UL approval of the idea. The agency told Zlan President George Spencer CPSC would help him through the petition process. Spencer told CPSC his firm's technology makes circuit breakers more sensitive to low voltage arcing and false tripping than household circuit breakers. Zlan coincidentally developed the product at the same time CPSC is studying ways to reduce fire hazards in older homes (PSL, 3/13/95, p.3). A 1987 CPSC study found wiring faults caused 50,400 fires, 440 deaths and $500 million in damage a year. Zlan's breaker is similarly shaped and snaps into the same place as traditional magnetic/thermal circuit breakers. But new features include an LED indicator, a serial port and computer chip. The chip can be programmed to compare measured current (to) typical household conditions. The breaker can detect short circuits less than 300 amps without triggering when appliances briefly turn on or off. It also detects under voltage, associated with overheating of motor-driven appliances. Unlike some breakers, the Zlan 20-amp breaker will trigger before 26-gauge buss wire is broken from overheating. Return to home page.