Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I almost always use another brand for panel changes, but I recently did a panel change using a Square D HomeLine panel with Qwik-Grip. I've been wanting to try Qwik-Grip for a while and finally got a job where I thought it would work well.
Qwik-Grip brochure: https://www.schneider-electric.us/e...53jxHi0dQVdF6SBcGGysTT75DdUnngcBoCiLsQAvD_BwE
Qwik-Grip is more complex than it first appears. They give you a map of where the various sized cables can go. Some spaces are too small for larger cables so you have to do a little pre-planning on the order you land cables. For example, the furthest back space in each slot can only handle a 14-2.
The max cable size is 10-3. So you still have to use KO's and connectors for larger cables. Note that there are only four 1/2" to 3/4" KO's and one 1" to 2" KO on each end of the panel since the Qwik-Grip takes up most of the space.
The job I was doing had a few newer NM cables and a lot of old cloth covered NM. While the newer NM slid right in each slot, the older NM was sticky (probably due to the rubber inside deteriorating) and didn't want to slide very well. It also seemed a bit thicker which didn't help. I ended up using a blunt tipped tool to gingerly force the cables into the slots.
Overall, I'd say the Qwik-Grip did save time and effort and I will be using it again.
Comments about other SqD features:
Changeable main breaker - This particular job required 150 amp panel now and the ability to upgrade to 200 amps later. The SqD panel made this easy. I purchased a 200 amp load center and a separate 150 amp main breaker (both of which were available at the Lowe's big box store) and swapped the main in a couple of minutes. I'll use the 200 on another job by purchasing a MLO panel. The only reason I did it this way was because I wasn't sure the 150 amp MB panels were rated for 200 amps although I thought they probably were. Another nicety is the main breakers fits both Homeline and QO panels.
Twin breakers - Every slot on the panel allowed twins and the twins are just slightly more expensive than two single breakers. The panel I installed was a 30 slot/60 circuit. This is a feature of HomeLine panels. QO panels don't allow this.
Full length neutral bars - These were an unexpected help. Being able to land neutrals and grounds the full length of the panel made the installation look neater and there was more room to land them. I didn't have any plug-on neutral devices to install, but I can see where that would be a benefit also.
Cover twistouts - This was my only complaint with the SqD panel. The cover twistouts did not come out cleanly. They left little tabs of metal which hit the breakers and interfered with the cover sitting flat. There wasn't a good way to remove them other than filing.
Qwik-Grip brochure: https://www.schneider-electric.us/e...53jxHi0dQVdF6SBcGGysTT75DdUnngcBoCiLsQAvD_BwE
Qwik-Grip is more complex than it first appears. They give you a map of where the various sized cables can go. Some spaces are too small for larger cables so you have to do a little pre-planning on the order you land cables. For example, the furthest back space in each slot can only handle a 14-2.
The max cable size is 10-3. So you still have to use KO's and connectors for larger cables. Note that there are only four 1/2" to 3/4" KO's and one 1" to 2" KO on each end of the panel since the Qwik-Grip takes up most of the space.
The job I was doing had a few newer NM cables and a lot of old cloth covered NM. While the newer NM slid right in each slot, the older NM was sticky (probably due to the rubber inside deteriorating) and didn't want to slide very well. It also seemed a bit thicker which didn't help. I ended up using a blunt tipped tool to gingerly force the cables into the slots.
Overall, I'd say the Qwik-Grip did save time and effort and I will be using it again.
Comments about other SqD features:
Changeable main breaker - This particular job required 150 amp panel now and the ability to upgrade to 200 amps later. The SqD panel made this easy. I purchased a 200 amp load center and a separate 150 amp main breaker (both of which were available at the Lowe's big box store) and swapped the main in a couple of minutes. I'll use the 200 on another job by purchasing a MLO panel. The only reason I did it this way was because I wasn't sure the 150 amp MB panels were rated for 200 amps although I thought they probably were. Another nicety is the main breakers fits both Homeline and QO panels.
Twin breakers - Every slot on the panel allowed twins and the twins are just slightly more expensive than two single breakers. The panel I installed was a 30 slot/60 circuit. This is a feature of HomeLine panels. QO panels don't allow this.
Full length neutral bars - These were an unexpected help. Being able to land neutrals and grounds the full length of the panel made the installation look neater and there was more room to land them. I didn't have any plug-on neutral devices to install, but I can see where that would be a benefit also.
Cover twistouts - This was my only complaint with the SqD panel. The cover twistouts did not come out cleanly. They left little tabs of metal which hit the breakers and interfered with the cover sitting flat. There wasn't a good way to remove them other than filing.
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