Electrical – GE PowerMark Gold + Conversion Kit

electrical-panel

GE has their PowerMark Gold series subpanels. Some of those are main lug that are convertible to main breaker.

I bought one of those panels

(https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-125-Amp-14-Spaces-24-Circuit-Convertible-Main-Breaker-Panel-Load-Center/1091073?cm_mmc=shp–c–prd–elc–google–lia–206–switchgear–1091073-_-0&placeholder=null&&ds_a_cid=112741100&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5JKbiYKZ7QIVir3ACh3W0gu2EAQYByABEgJ_2fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds).

It does have the instructions for hooking up a back feed breaker in the upper right slot but doesn’t say how to configure with a separate kit.

(https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-PowerMark-Gold-125-Amp-2-Pole-Main-Circuit-Breaker-Conversion-Kit-THQMH125CP/100118346).

The kit also doesn’t say anything about the breaker panel cover.

The breaker cover panel does not have a knock out for that. Am I supposed to cut an opening for it or are these conversion kits not compatible?

Is cutting the breaker cover allowed by code?enter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description hereenter image description here

Best Answer

You need to use a backfed main with a THQLRK3 hold-down...

Your panel, unfortunately, is not compatible with the TQMH000 main breaker adapter kit you are contemplating. This is denoted on the diagram by the box labeled "MAIN" taking up two branch breaker spaces, instead of being above the branch breaker "stack".

...or just get a larger panel

However, there's an easy way to forestall all this, and that's simply to take the panel back and get something chunkier. Going up to a 24-space, 125A or even a 30- or 40-space panel isn't that much more expensive, and means you don't have to agonize over panel spaces nearly as much. You won't need to replace the main breaker in the bigger panel, either, since you're fitting a subpanel. (It's either an easy way to get the required shutoff means for a subpanel in an outbuilding, or can simply be replaced by main lugs if the subpanel is in the same building as the panel feeding it.)