Kodak Recalls Camera Adapter Made by Elpac

Eastman Kodak Co., the world’s largest photography company, said Wednesday that it is recalling 120,000 electricity adapters, made by an Irvine company, that are used with some digital cameras because under specific conditions they can leak acid and explode.

Kodak said it knows of three incidents in which batteries in digital cameras overheated and discharged acid while the adapters were in use. In one case, a man reported suffering minor burns when battery acid exploded in his face.

The adapters were manufactured by Elpac Electronics Inc.

The total cost of the recall will be $1 million to $3 million and will be borne by Kodak, said Charles Smith, spokesman for the Rochester, N.Y.-based company. Elpac also will supply the replacement adapters.

Kodak, which ranks its digital camera sales second behind Sony Corp.’s, said it will replace the adapters free and allow customers to upgrade some camera models at a discount.

Kodak said the AC adapters were sold for $40 to $80 each as optional accessories for use with Kodak digital cameras from March 1996 to August 1998.

The cameras that use the adapters have model numbers DC25, DC40, DC50 and DC120.

When an adapter’s connector plug isn’t fully inserted in the camera, the batteries in the camera can overheat, Kodak said, possibly causing thermal and chemical burns or cuts to people.

The problem is that the adapter’s barrel--the cylinder that fits into the camera--sometimes doesn’t flip the switch that overrides the flow of power from the batteries, said Marshall Wright, chief operating officer at closely held Elpac.

“There’s nothing wrong with the power supply and there’s nothing wrong with the camera,” Wright said. “It’s an interface problem.”

Wright declined to say who was responsible for the interface.

Elpac has about 200 employees, half of them in Irvine, and supplies power adapters to numerous equipment manufacturers, Wright said.

Kodak’s shares closed at $65.88, off 6 cents, on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company said customers seeking more information can call toll-free at (888) 404-3711 or can contact Kodak online at https://www.kodak.com/go/acadapter.