Intro:

This guide is reguarding Dell Power Adapters and ensuring you don't purchase one on eBay that is covered under the Comsumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall for fire or shock hazard. Do not buy an adapter with a missing or unreadable DS/N sticker.

What to check for:

1. The words "DELL," and either "P/N 9364U", "P/N 7832D", or "P/N 4983D" are printed on the back of the adapterss
2. Only adapters labeled with "Delta Electronics" are affected by the recall. Not all Delta Electronics adapters are affected.
3. Adapter was manufactured in China(CH) or Thailand(TH).
   

If your adapter meets all of these qualifications, then you should check if the adapter is under recall though the Dell Adapter Program website(see Links).  Not all of the adapters from Delta Electronics are under recall.  Only the Dell website can confirm if the adapter is under recall.

If you find that the adapter is under recall, I would suggest trying to resolve the issue with the seller and escalating only should the seller prove unresponsive.  Selling items covered under a CPSC recall is a violation of eBay's policy on recalled items.

Additionally, all Dell adapters have the manufacturing data directly printed on the plastic casing. The only sticker used is for the DS/N and DP/N. Something else may be a counterfeit .

LINKS:

• Dell Adapter Recall Progam website (Secure): https://www.delladapterprogram.com
• CPSC website: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05004.html
  

Letter from Dell:
October 8, 2004
Dear Dell Customer,

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dell is voluntarily recalling and offering free replacements for certain AC adapters that were sold for use with some models of Dell Latitude, Dell Precision and Dell Inspiron notebook computers.  It is possible for the adapters to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire or electrical shock.

Potentially affected adapters were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers:

• Latitude CP, CPi, CPiA, CPtC, CPiR, CPxH, CPtV, CS, CSx, CPxJ, CPtS, C500, C510, C600, C610, C800, C805, C810, V700, C-Dock, C-Port
• Inspiron 2500, 2600, 3500, 3700, 3800, 4000, 4100, 4150, 5000, 5000E, 7500, 7550, 8000, 8100, Advanced Port Replicator, Docking Station
• Precision M40
  

The adapters were also sold separately, including in response to service calls.  The adapters were shipped to customers between September 1998 and February 2002. The words "DELL," and either "P/N 9364U", "P/N 7832D", or "P/N 4983D" are printed on the back of the adapters.  Note that not all the above-described adapters sold during the noted date range are affected.