Customers urged to switch off these solar batteries immediately
Anyone with the affected batteries in their storage system has been warned to turn the unit off, over a ”serious risk of injury or death” and the risk of a fire.
Even non-LG storage systems can be at risk if they have an LG-branded battery, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said.
LG is now instructing all consumers with affected LG batteries in their solar energy storage system to switch their energy storage system off immediately.
They should be kept off until technicians are able to remediate the issue.
Storage units may be branded as LG, SolaX, Opal, Red Earth, Eguana or VARTA.
“It is critically important that anyone with a solar energy storage system checks their battery’s serial number, as this recall has been updated to include new models,” the ACCC’s Catriona Lowe said.
“Even if you don’t have an LG-branded solar storage system, you may still have an LG branded battery that has been recalled,” she said.
“For peace of mind – check your system again and turn off your battery straight away if it has been recalled.”
The manufacturer LG has agreed to foot the bill, and for any larger energy bills customers could incur while their solar systems are switched off.
Customers with affected systems have been told to contact LG or SolaX, who will let customers know which remedy applies to their battery.
While all affected batteries should be immediately turned off, some systems will be replaced, while others will be refunded instead.
Other affected LG batteries will receive a software update which will shut down batteries at risk of overheating.
The affected batteries are equipped with cells containing electrodes from all production lots manufactured from January 2016 to 28 March 2017; and from 14 September 2018 to 30 June 2019.
References
- ^ solar storage (www.9news.com.au)