Square D Hom breaker on a General Electric box?

[Toller]

I went to Lowes, where I bought my GE box a few months ago, to pick up a 20a

240v breaker. They didn't have any. (well, actually they had some half size 240v breakers, but I couldn't get them to fit a panel they had there...). I thought about buying two 20a breakers and putting a nail between them, but then saw that the Square D Hom breakers were the same configuration as the GE. I bought one and it is actually a better fit than the GE breakers.

I know it voids the warranty, can possibly remove the UL approval, and poses grave harm to home and life; but as a practical matter, is there anything wrong with this? As long as it makes solid contact with the backplane, which it does as well as the GE breakers, I can't see where there is any potential for harm.

Has someone tried this and either been satisfied or had a problem result?

[Mike Dobony]

Loss of insurance coverage in the case of a fire.

[RBM]

Technically, it is a code violation as the NEC says something like electrical equipment must be installed as per manufacturers instructions. Each manufacturer says to only use "listed" breakers in the panel. As a practical matter, I don't think I've ever seen any "universal" panel with only the listed breakers in them, nor has any electrical inspector ever complained about my installing mixed brands in universal panels, and as you've observed, some "other" brands fit better then the intended brand