SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20260223-FDC39-2147323331. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Spike Solo Control Panel. SoloG1 (Name: Spike Solo Control Panel. Manufacturer: Spike Brewing, located in Milwaukee, WI. Purpose: An automated electrical controller designed to manage temperatures and power for a single-vessel (BIAB - Brew in a Bag) home brewing system. Power Specifications: A high-voltage, high-amperage unit typically rated for 240V and 30A. Key Components: * Internal Controller: Features a PID or similar logic controller for precision temperature management.). Incident: I am reporting a catastrophic fire failure of a Spike Solo Control Panel (30A/240V brewing system). Ten minutes into a standard heating cycle, the NEMA L6-30 "Element" receptacle on the control panel spontaneously ignited, producing a sustained, active flame. ------- The product was used in a residential home environment, strictly following all manufacturer instructions and without any modifications. At the time of the fire, the panel was placed on a work surface with a towel nearby to manage standard brewing condensation. ---------- The electrical failure resulted in a high-heat thermal event that caused the NEMA L6-30 plug and receptacle to undergo significant plastic deformation and melting. One of the plug's brass pins was fused into the receptacle due to intense arcing. This sustained heat source led to the spontaneous ignition of the control panel's housing components, which produced an active flame that spread to and charred the flammable material (a protective towel). ----- In my opinion, the primary hazard is the fact that the control panel failed to cut power as the thermal event progressed. Even as the receptacle ignited and the plug began to melt, the system continued to deliver full current to the shorted/arcing connection. I had to manually intervene to disconnect the unit; when I did so, the power was still actively flowing into the control panel. ---- Usage