Improperly installed Ring doorbells are catching on fire

Enlarge / The issue isn't really the Ring device itself—it's the use of improper screws. Specifically, long pointy ones that might reach places they shouldn't and electrically short-circuit things that absolutely should not be short-circuited! (credit: Amazon / Jim Salter)

Approximately 350,000 Ring doorbells sold in the North American markets are subject to a safety recall issued yesterday. Specifically, improperly installed 2nd-generation Ring doorbells can catch fire, causing property damage and potential burn hazards. This is a fairly unusual recall, however—and one that doesn't require consumers to return their devices.

As long as the Ring doorbells were installed using the screws provided with the devices themselves, they're fine. The issue is that quite a few homeowners substituted their own screws for the ones included in the package—and longer screws may reach places inside the Ring device that they shouldn't, causing a short-circuit that can lead to overheating or fire.

Ring reports to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission that it has received 85 incident reports involving use of improper screws, with 23 cases of ignition involving minor property damage and eight cases of minor personal burns.

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