Square D QO Panel Recall

[Kingrex]

Some people have heard there is a Square D QO panel recall. These are good panels. I specify and provide them for clients all the time.

I have gone to the Schneider Electric (Square D) website and found the recall is based upon "The wire binding screw within the lug body could potentially not be torqued properly to the Plug-on-Neutral bar".

See the attached 2 images. Look where my drive is set. This is the screw. There are 2. One on each side of the panel.
Use a T20 Torx wrench and check the screw is tight. In the next day or so I will get the actual torque.

I assume most people won’t have a calibrated torque wrench. Try and turn the screw with a hand driver such as in the image. If it feels tight and won’t move it is fine. If it starts to screw in, continue until it lands tight, and then use firm force to set it in place. I use 2 hands and nudge it tight.

This is a very safe panel. It is one of the best affordable panels for audiophile to use. Especially when the ground and neutral is changed to copper. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Rex

 

[CPP]

The recall includes boxes manufactured in the U.S. between February 2020 and January 20222 with date codes between 200561 and 220233. Circuit-breaker boxes with covers that were made between December 2019 and March 2022 are also included in the recall...

Location of date codes: https://www.productinfo.schneider-electric.com/0110pd9201db/0110pd9201-date-code-system-data-bulletin/0110PD9201%20Date%20Code%20System%20Data%20Bulletin/en/0110PD9201_0000348655.xml/$/LocationOfDateCode-02A83666

 

[Mike]

Please ensure you only hire and use a licensed electrician for this type of work.


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[CPP]

Please ensure you only hire and use a licensed electrician for this type of work.


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You got that right. Nothing like having a city or county inspector stop by and wanting to see your permit for the electrical work. Or having your home inspected by an insurance company and they want to see your permits for alterations for any building, pluming and electrical work done. I know this so well. We had our insurance cancelled along with a few 100k people living on the coast as some insurance company now will not insure those in coastal areas. So since we moved in 10 years ago, had some building modifications made ( sunroom, office etc) , kitchen upgrades, countertops, sinks, hot water heater, upgraded AC and air handler, split my electrical panel since it was getting rather crowded all had permits. And after the home inspection along with a wind mit on our concrete barrel tile roof, hurricane windows and doors, concrete poured block with rebar the home inspector noted, don't be surprised if the insurance company doesn't send their own. Sure enough the guy showed up 2 days later and wanted to see the paperwork and all permits for all work done, even the split electrical panel. Picky picky picky. WE got our new coverage. $$.

 

[Kingrex]

I have been working to understand more about this issue. Let me just start by saying, a trusted source at Square D said only 1 panel out of 1.5 million has had this issue confirmed. I don't think its a problem.
Of course it is never an issue to check the torque in your panel. I always check the torque on every single wire in any panel I get into. I will now check the neural to plug on neutral termination as well.

If for some reason this connection is not tight, heating could have compromised the integrity of the metal. I don't know I would just torque it and walk away. The lug could crack/split over time. I would take a hard look at the metal and see if any discoloration has occurred. Metal that has become hot gets a sort of rainbow color. Even so, I might just ask SqD to replace the interior of the panel. You don't need to pull the can out of the wall. You would only need to remove the interior and replace it.

A savvy electrician could take the new panel interior and remove the lug, plug on neutral bar as well as landing screw and insert them in the old panel. That would be a 10 minute fix that would replace all the affected elements. Technically this is reconditioning a panel which is not NEC compliant. Its up to you what you want to do. I would find this a very satisfactory repair and use it at my home. Stripping the interior from the panel and re-landing all wires would take around 4 hours and be pretty invasive.