My apologies for asking what may seem to be a 'stupid question', but I'm a lowly project coordinator stuck in my office during lunch and the only thing keeping me here is revision 7 of a document that should've been sent on its merry way days ago. The problem is that the contracting advisor wants to know what NQOD stands for and it's up to me to find out. I could think up several witty definitions, but a) I'm too hungry to think, b) it might get me fired, c) I don't think my version will pass the contracting advisor's review.

Can anyone help me with this?

Welcome BugabooBren!

Is this NQOD something that is on this print revision?

Yes, although the document is not a construction drawing or schematic, it's a contract development doc.

The phrase used is:

"install a NQOD panel-board for emergency power distribution."

Thanks for the welcome, your anecdotes (them stories ya'll tell) are hysterical and now I'll know not to imply something 'just happened when you were here last', nor 'while you were here, something tripped/died/smoked/etc"... I should have known better anyway because I dispatched telecomm techs for years who always took the heat for some ditz who busted their phone system.

I'm not susre what NQOD means but I know Square D makes that type of panel you might try contacting them they should have some sort of literature on the subject.

Yeah, I did a http://www.dogpile.com/ search and found some manufacturers and suppliers that have them, a number of sites that reference it and even a technical document that describes the product's specifications in detail, but the mysterious NQOD is used throughout but never explained or defined.

Thanks for checking on it, I'll keep checking back to see if anyone has more info.

NQOD is a Square D panelboard that either bolt-on or plug-in type QO breakers can be used in.
Look here: http://www.squared.com/us/products/panelboa.nsf/DocumentsByCategory/0DBFAE9FB0A53800852565C4005B0AA7

Don(resqcapt19)

[This message has been edited by resqcapt19 (edited 11-15-2001).]

Yeah, that's one of the first ones I found, too. So, would there be any safe assumption in saying NQOD might be a trademark or a name brand used by a manufacturer? I see where there are a number of distributers but perhaps this is only manufactured by one company and there are other 'brands' of panel boards available. Any thoughts?

NQOD is SquareD's model or type number for that panelboard. I would assume that it is trademarked. I don't know of any other panel manufacturer that makes a panel that will accept both plug-in and bolt-on breakers in the same panel.
Don(resqcapt19)

Thanks again! I think I've gathered enough info to send the CA off with:

N appears to be the type of cabinet that houses the panel.

QO stands for "Quick Open" (QOB stands for "Quick Open - Bolted", btw)

and D appears to be a rating (perhaps?) for panelboards used for lighter duty, say 600 amps or less.

Thanks for playing, everyone!

When all else fails ask Jeeves!
http://answerpoint.ask.com/qa/forumshow.cfm?mb=2992464453272691&page=1

If you have a little time, check out some of the questions and the replies.....almost scary!!

NQOD is a brand name of Square D, it is not listed as a tradmark. It is a lighting and appliance branch circuit panel rated at 240VAC max.

All of Square D's lighting panels (as opposed to loadcenters)are prefixed with an N. In the old days their power panels started with an M.

The QO stands for the type of breaker and really means nothing. QO was simply a new letter designation (older breakers were types MO and XO). However 15 and 20A 1Pole QO breakers feature a "QWICK-OPEN" construction.

The D stands for dual connection bus bars. The panel accepts plug-on and/or bolt-on breakers. The older NQO panel was for plug-on only and the NQOB was bolt-on only.

Thank you, JBD. I had some hesitation with my own estimation of the designation but will submit yours and have confidence that it sufficiently explains it.