Square D QO Panel Recall

EDIT:

I said:

Before an electrical fire in the panel happens home owners may be loosing appliances and electronic devices.

That should read:

Before an electrical fire in the panel happens home owners may be losing appliances and electronic devices.

If your Square D QO Load Center panel is on the recall list I suggest you call an electrician to do the job. He will check all the neutral bar assembly connections for tightness, and proper torque.

If the electrical panel has been in use for a while and the binding screw(s) is not torqued properly and there has been heating in the connection the screw may resist being screwed in and may show it is torqued to specs but it really isn’t. A qualified licensed electrician knows how to check the screw to the tapped thread in the lug body to verify the screw is not seized in the lug body.

FWIW, Schneider electric should pay the Electrical Contractor/Electrician for his labor. Good luck getting paid...

A one hour service call charge should cover the cost.

Photo of binding screws

https://www.kingrexelectric.com/square-d-panel-recall

@kingrex

You said:

The NEC does not allow for reconditioning of a loadcenter, so you would need to pull the interior out of the panel can and replace it with new.

Jmho, 2020 NEC 408.8 (A) does not apply. This does not fall under the definition of Reconditioned.

Art 100, Reconditioned.

Reconditioned. Electromechanical systems, equipment, apparatus, or components that are restored to operating conditions. This process differs from normal servicing of equipment that remains within a facility, or replacement of listed equipment on a one-to-one basis.

 

Informational note: The term reconditioned is frequently referred to as rebuilt, refurbished, or, remanufactured.

The AHJ has the final say though.

My guess all that will need to be done, in most cases, is check the wire binding screw(s). First verify the screw screws freely in the lug’s threads then tighten and torque to specs. An Electrician will first look at the lug and the connection to the neutral bus rail before doing anything.

This work should not be performed by a non professional. It should only be performed by a Licensed Electrician. Failure to do so will more than likely release Square D, (Schneider Electric inc.), from any legal liability in the event of an electrical fire in the electrical panel.

Jim

.

I said:

As you know only the unbalanced 120V L1 and L2 to neutral loads returns on the service neutral conductor to the utility power transformer neutral leg.

EDIT:

It should read:

As you know only the unbalanced 120V L1 and L2 to neutral load current returns on the service neutral conductor to the utility power transformer neutral leg.

@kingrex said:

If arcing had occures and the lug and or neutral bar were burned and required replacement, this would constitute reconditioning. 

"Reconditioning" defined by 2020 NEC, no.

Replace the interior with a new one yes. But not because of Nec 408.8 (A). Not the way I read it and the Art 100 definition of "Reconditioned" anyway...

I ran across this article doing a search. Actually I found a few articles on the subject that say the same thing.  

National Electrical Code | Reconditioned equipment - Eaton

I highly doubt you could purchase the lug and bar as individual items from Schneider.

Maybe the lug. Agree not the neutral rail bar. If the rail is burned/damaged the interior is toast. There is no repairing it. 

I wonder if Schneider will pay for the labor to pull the old interior and install the new one? There will be several man hours involved. Add labor if the main breaker is in the panel. Electricians in my area cannot break the seal and pull the meter. Only the Utility Co. can pull the meter and reinstall it. Time is money...

Something that has not been mentioned in this thread or in the recall bulletin, other than a possible electrical fire inside the panel enclosure, is possible damage to 120V appliances and  120V electronic devices that are connected to the side with the bad neutral connection.

 There will be a VD, (Voltage Drop), across an arcing loose connection. The greater the arcing the greater the VD. (Basically a resistance in series in the circuit.)

As you know only the unbalanced 120V L1 and L2 to neutral loads returns on the service neutral conductor to the utility power transformer neutral leg. The above arcing loose neutral connection is basically a loose service neutral connection between L1 and L2 connected 120 volt loads. The greater the imbalance of 120V L1 and L2 connected loads, connected to the neutral bar rail, the greater the voltage differences feeding the connected loads. Usually electronic device are fed over voltage and are damaged.  As I am sure you already know.

Jim

kingrex OP

66 posts

06-21-2022 at 11:12pm

It appears out of 1.5 million panels sold, there is 1 complaint of a non torqued screw.

Ya, I read that too.

Just a gut feeling a loose neutral connection on the Line side of L1 and L2 120V connected loads could be a bigger concern for Schneider. Before an electrical fire in the panel happens home owners may be loosing appliances and electronic devices. A neutral is only a neutral when it is solidly connected to the source.