HP recalls six million power cords

HP has launched a worldwide recall for power cords that can catch fire. Anyone with a vulnerable power cord will receive a new one as soon as possible, the American manufacturer promises.

The affected power cord was shipped with HP and Compaq-branded notebook computers and docking stations between September 2010 and June 2012. If you have a power cord marked ‘LS-15’, you can have it replaced free of charge, although not all power cords marked with that label are actually dangerous.

According to HP, the power cord has overheated 29 times; in two cases people suffered minor injuries. The company therefore advises customers to stop using the cord. In most cases, if you request a new one, you will receive it within three to five days, but in some cases it can take up to ten days for the new cord to arrive.

The company further emphasizes that the power cord does not pose a risk of overheating the notebook itself; the problem is only in the cord. According to the company, this also means that laptops could not be damaged by using the unsafe copy.