SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20210708-92EF0-2147363042. Severity: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received. Product: Air Vent Incorporated F0512B2506 (Air Vent Incorporated Power Attic Ventilator Motor, Model Number F0512B2506, UPC Number 046388230233, white, motor diameter = 5-1/8", motor housing height = 2-7/8", shaft diameter = 1/2", shaft length = 2-3/8". Model F0512B2506 UPC 046388230233). Incident: I received a replacement motor, p/n F0512B2506 from Air Vent, Inc. to replace a motor for an Air Vent attic ventilator that failed during the warranty period. The motor shaft on the new motor was much more difficult to turn than I expected, so before I swapped the motors, I applied 120vac power to the new motor on my workbench to confirm that it worked. After less than 5 seconds, a big spark came out of the motor housing, the circuit breaker blew, and the motor no longer worked. I can see inside the motor housing where the line and neutral power wires are shorted together and melted. I can also see that the insulation on the cordset was stripped way back so that there was no insulation or separation between the uninsulated hot and neutral wires inside the motor housing. There was definitely a problem with the way this motor was manufactured, and it could have caused a fire.