Around 350,000 of Ring’s second-generation video doorbells are at the center of a safety scare after reports emerged of some of the devices catching fire. An additional 8,700 units sold to customers in Canada are also impacted.
A notice posted online by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states: “The video doorbell’s battery can overheat when the incorrect screws are used for installation, posing fire and burn hazards,” adding that Ring has so far received 23 reports of the device catching fire and causing minor property damage, and eight reports of minor burns on individuals.
According to a message tweeted by Ring on Tuesday, the doorbell’s battery is at risk of heating up and catching fire if it’s punctured during the installation process, prompting the company to publish updated installation instructions (pdf available here) to ensure such a mishap is avoided.
A spokesperson for Ring told Digital Trends: “We have and continue to work cooperatively with the CPSC on this issue, and have contacted customers who purchased a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) to ensure they received the updated user manual and follow the device installation instructions.”
In other words, if you have one of the affected doorbells and you’re yet to install it, you need to make sure you refer to the newly published instruction manual before doing so. If you’ve already installed it and it works fine, there’s nothing to be concerned about as it means the battery is intact.
How to find out if your doorbell is impacted
Ring said it is contacting affected customers, but you can also find out for yourself if your doorbell is part of the safety notice by visiting this web page and entering the device’s serial number (DSN).
If you want to speak to someone regarding the issue, you can call Ring customer services at 800-656-1918 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT (available seven days a week). Alternatively, head to this page for online assistance.
The Ring doorbell named on the CPSC safety notice was sold at electronics and home goods stores across the U.S., and online at Amazon and Ring, between June 2020 and October 2020. Despite the CPSC describing the issue as a “recall” event, Ring said the device does not have to be returned.
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