SRI FOR THE OT, but this is a Safety Alert! PASS IT ON...

Company Recalls Electrical Meters Mon Aug 19, 2:37 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - About 40,000 digital multimeters are being recalled because they can put users at risk of shock, thermal burns and even electrocution.

The meters, which measure voltage, resistance and current, can take longer than normal — up to 18 seconds — to display readings of voltages over 500 volts. The delay could be misinterpreted to mean there is not a high voltage.

Fluke Corp., of Everett, Wash., has received a total of four reports from Canada and Australia in which meters gave a delayed response, although no injuries have been reported, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday.

More than 17,000 of the meters were sold in the United States. Those included in the recall are yellow and black, have the numbers 175, 177 or 179 written on the front and have a serial number of 79,000,000 or below.

Meters should be returned for a free repair. The company can be reached at 1-800-260-4819.