WEBVTT

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- It is summertime,

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which means pool parties
and backyard barbecues.

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Also, your umbrella
might burst into flames.

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A new filings from the United States

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Consumer Product Safety Commission

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has recalled a popular
solar powered umbrella

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as it reportedly bursts into flames.

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The SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella

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features a series of LEDs

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that run along the inside
of the umbrella's canopy,

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which are powered by solar panels

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and a lithium-ion battery.

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The battery can also be plugged

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in to charge using an AC adapter.

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The commission claims to have received

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two reports of the umbrella catching fire

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when the solar panels overheated,

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and three reports of the solar panels

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overheating as the umbrella charged

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while plugged in indoors.

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The recall was jointly filed

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with the Government of Canada,

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and there are apparently
400,000 affected units,

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33,000 of which are in Canada.

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The Commission says that:

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"Consumers should immediately

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stop using the umbrellas,

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remove the solar panel puck

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containing a lithium-ion battery

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from the top of the umbrella,

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store the puck out of the sun

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and away from combustible material,

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and do not charge the
puck with the AC adapter."

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The umbrella sold at
Costco from December 2020

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to May 2022 for anywhere
from $130 to $160.

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That's a heavy price tag

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for a glorified scripto lighter.

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Thankfully the commission

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only has one report of injury,

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which occurred due to smoke inhalation.

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Funny enough, a recall for
a similar solar powered

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LED umbrella sold at Bed Bath & Beyond

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was filed in 2010.

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But these umbrellas
didn't burst into flames.

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The commission said
that a plastic connector

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holding the umbrella up could snap,

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causing it to collapse.

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Jeez, these things have bad
engineering across the board.

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Some Googling shows that
solar powered LED umbrellas

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are available at retailers like Amazon,

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Target, Walmart, and Home Depot.

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So I guess long story short,

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if you're gonna buy one,

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just have a fire extinguisher nearby.

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To read more about product recalls,

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check out gizmodo.com.

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(upbeat music)