Quick Answer

The Von Duprin QEL conversion kit upgrades an existing mechanical or EL-equipped exit device to quiet electric latch retraction. Before you order, you need to answer four questions:

• Which series is your device? 22 Series uses a completely separate kit family. All other series (33A/35A, 75/78, 94/95, 98/99) share the same modular and baseplate kit catalog.
• Mechanical or EL upgrade? Mechanical devices use the modular kit. EL solenoid devices require the baseplate kit.
• Do you need AX, CON, or HD options? AX is for ADA force compliance, CON is the Allegion Connect wiring adapter, and HD adds hex dogging (panic devices only).
• Is the device fire-rated? If yes, HD-QEL and HD-QELX kits are prohibited. Use standard QEL or QELX only.

Security Parts stocks all Von Duprin QEL conversion kit variants with same-day shipping on stocked components. Call 845-935-0301 before ordering if the application is a 94/95 INPACT Series device. Those require a configured part number.

What the Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit Does

The QEL (Quiet Electric Latch) is Von Duprin's motor-driven electric latch retraction option for commercial exit devices. When an electric signal is sent from an access control system, keypad, or key switch, the QEL motor retracts the latch bolt, allowing the door to be pulled open from the outside without pressing the push bar.

The word "quiet" distinguishes it from the older EL (Electric Latch) option, which uses a solenoid that produces an audible click during latch retraction. The QEL motor is significantly quieter, making it the preferred specification for hospitals, libraries, museums, theaters, and any environment where operational noise is disruptive.

The conversion kit is the field-installable version. It upgrades an existing mechanical device or replaces a failed QEL motor without requiring a full exit device replacement. Two kit types exist: the modular kit and the baseplate kit. Understanding which one applies to your device is the first and most important step.

For background on how QEL compares to MEL and when to specify each, see the Von Duprin panic bar QEL vs MEL selection guide. For a complete overview of which series use the QEL, see the Von Duprin series guide.

Modular vs Baseplate: Which Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit Do You Need?

This is the decision most technicians get wrong on the first order. The two kit types are not interchangeable and serve different upgrade scenarios.

Von Duprin 114317 QEL modular conversion kit. View product page and order.

The Modular Kit: For Mechanical Device Upgrades and Motor Replacement

The modular kit is the recommended solution for most applications. It replaces only the motor assembly inside the existing baseplate. The baseplate itself stays on the door. Because the motor assembly fits both 3-foot and 4-foot devices, you do not need to specify device size when ordering. This flexibility is why the modular kit has become the standard upgrade path for mechanical devices.

Use the modular kit when:

• You are upgrading a mechanical exit device to QEL for the first time
• You are replacing a failed QEL motor on an existing QEL device
• The existing device is not an EL solenoid device

The primary modular kit part number for 33A/35A and 98/99 Series devices is 114317. HD-QEL modular (with hex dogging, panic devices only) is 958002.

The Baseplate Kit: For EL Solenoid Device Conversions

Von Duprin 958003 QEL baseplate conversion kit (3-foot). View product page and order.

The baseplate kit replaces the full baseplate assembly, replacing the entire back plate of the exit device, not just the motor. This is required when the existing device uses an EL solenoid, because the solenoid is mounted to the baseplate and cannot simply be removed and replaced with a motor.

Use the baseplate kit when:

• Your existing device is an EL (Electric Latch) solenoid device
• You need to convert from solenoid-driven to motor-driven latch retraction

The baseplate kit requires device size specification at order time. The 3-foot kit is 958003 and the 4-foot kit is 040065. Baseplate kits are available for the 33A/35A and 98/99 Series only. They are not available for the 75/78 Series or the 22 Series.

Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit Ordering Table

Use this table to identify your kit by series, option combination, and device type. All part numbers in the table are verified live on the Security Parts catalog.

Understanding the Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit Options

Every QEL conversion kit is built around a base motor assembly. The three option designations modify that base. Understanding each option is what allows you to select the correct part number from the table above without calling in every time.

AX Option: ADA-Compliant Force Reduction (QELX)

The AX option, designated QELX, meets the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design requirement that operable parts on accessible routes shall not require more than 5 pounds of force to activate. The QELX motor provides reduced activation force to meet this standard.

Specify QELX when the opening is on an accessible route required to comply with ADA force requirements. For a broader discussion of how ANSI/BHMA standards apply to commercial door hardware specification, see the ANSI/BHMA door hardware standards guide.

CON Option: Allegion Connect Wiring Adapter

The CON designation means the kit includes the Allegion Connect adapter harness, which provides a pre-wired connector for quick connection to compatible power sources without field wire termination. If your installation uses a standard PS900 Series power supply with field-terminated wiring, you do not need the CON version.

The CON adapter harness is also available as a standalone part if you need to add the Allegion Connect interface to an existing QEL installation: 106198 QEL CON Adapter Harness. The QEL motor cable for non-CON installations is 114320 QEL Motor Cable, and the combined cable with CON harness is 47269206 QEL/MEL Motor Cable with 6-inch harness.

HD Option: Hex Dogging (Panic Devices Only)

The HD (Hex Dogging) option allows the electric latch retraction device to be manually dogged using a 5/32-inch hex key, holding the latch bolt retracted so the door swings freely during business hours without requiring an electric signal. This is useful in high-traffic commercial applications.

HD-QEL and HD-QELX kits are available for panic exit hardware only. They cannot be used on fire-rated exit hardware. This is a code compliance requirement, not a mechanical limitation. If a fire-rated device requires QEL with an accessible option, order QELX without the HD designation.

22 Series QEL Conversion Kit: What Makes It Different

Von Duprin 47857518 22 Series QEL conversion kit. View product page and order.

The 22 Series exit device uses a different mechanism case design from the 33A/35A and 98/99 Series, which means it requires its own dedicated QEL kit family. The 33A/35A and 98/99 modular kits will not fit a 22 Series device.

Three important restrictions apply to the 22 Series QEL kits:

1. Modular kits only. No baseplate conversion kit exists for the 22 Series. If a 22 Series device needs to go from EL to QEL, a full device replacement is required.
2. Manufacture date matters. 22 Series modular QEL kits are compatible only with devices manufactured after January 1, 2022. Devices with a seam visible on the mechanism case are pre-2022 units and require a full device replacement to achieve QEL capability.
3. No 3-foot vs 4-foot designation needed. The 22 Series QEL kit is size-universal.

For 22 Series parts and configuration context, see the Von Duprin 22, 33A/35A, and 55 Series exit device parts guide.

QEL-L and QEL-B: Specialty Option Kits

QEL-L: Latch Retraction Only with Active Pushpad

Von Duprin 47897873 QEL-L modular latch retraction with CON. View product page and order.

The standard QEL retraction allows the door to be pushed open from the outside without depressing the push bar during an electric signal. The QEL-L changes that behavior: it retracts the latch bolt on signal, but the push bar must still be depressed to open the door.

This is used when the opening requires controlled latch retraction for access control purposes, but the push bar must remain active, for example, in a supervised egress application or a delayed-egress installation where residents must interact with the push bar even when the latch is retracted.

The QEL-L kit includes an RX switch for door status monitoring. Available kits:

• 47895915: QEL-L 3-foot device
• 47895918: QEL-L 4-foot device
• 47897873: QEL-L with Allegion Connect CON adapter

QEL-B: Audible Notification Buzzer

Von Duprin 47856044 QEL-B modular buzzer kit. View product page and order.

The QEL-B kit adds an audible buzzer that sounds during initial latch bolt retraction. This provides occupants with a clear signal that the door has been released and can be opened. It is specified when silent retraction would cause confusion or when the application requires an audible notification as part of the access protocol.

Part number: 47856044 QEL-B Modular Buzzer Kit.

Fire Door Restriction: The Rule That Cannot Be Overlooked

The single most critical restriction in the Von Duprin QEL conversion kit catalog is the fire door prohibition on HD and HD-X kits. This is not a preference or a recommendation. It is a code requirement.

Fire-rated exit hardware must latch on every closing cycle, without exception, to maintain the fire barrier. Hex dogging holds the latch bolt retracted. These two requirements are incompatible.

On fire-rated exit devices:

• Order standard QEL or QELX kits only
• Never order HD-QEL or HD-QELX kits
• If the device has a fire label, the HD designation voids it
• The QEL wiring on fire-rated devices must be connected to the fire alarm system so the latch retracts on alarm signal

For a complete reference on fire door hardware requirements and how they affect exit device specification, see the commercial door fire rating guide.

Power Supply Requirements for the Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit

The QEL requires 24VDC from a compatible power supply. Using 12VDC will cause the LED on the QEL board to flash red and the latch bolt will not retract. The following power supplies and option boards are compatible:

The QEL is also compatible with an existing 900-2Q option board if one is already installed in the power supply. Up to two sequenced QEL devices can share one 900-2RS board; the latch retraction of two sequenced devices requires more than one second to complete.

For guidance on how the QEL integrates with broader access control system architecture, see the access control integration guide.

How to Select and Order the Right Von Duprin QEL Conversion Kit

Work through these five questions in order. The answers map directly to the ordering table above.

1. What series is the device? Confirm 22 Series, 33A/35A, 75/78, 94/95 INPACT, or 98/99. The 22 Series uses its own kit family. 94/95 INPACT requires a configured part number from Security Parts. 75/78 Series uses the same modular kits as 33A/35A and 98/99 but has no baseplate option.
2. Mechanical device or EL solenoid? Mechanical devices use the modular kit. EL solenoid devices require the baseplate kit (33A/35A and 98/99 only).
3. Device size (if baseplate or QEL-L)? Specify 3-foot (36-inch) or 4-foot (48-inch) for baseplate kits and QEL-L kits. Modular kits for mechanical upgrades are size-universal.
4. Options needed? Select AX (QELX) for ADA force compliance, CON for Allegion Connect wiring, and HD for hex dogging on panic devices only. These can be combined (example: HD-QELX with CON is 041165).
5. Fire-rated device? If the device has a fire label, remove HD from the selection immediately and confirm you are ordering a standard QEL or QELX kit.

Security Parts stocks Von Duprin QEL conversion kit variants across all series with same-day shipping on stocked components. Pre-order compatibility support is available at 845-935-0301 before the order is placed. Browse the full exit devices catalog and the Von Duprin parts hub for complete series coverage with model-specific diagrams. For exit device parts guides organized by series, see the Von Duprin parts guide and the Von Duprin exit device series comparison

About the Author

This guide was written by the Security Parts team, a commercial door hardware specialist serving locksmiths, facility managers, general contractors, and access control integrators since 2001. Security Parts stocks Von Duprin QEL conversion kits across all active series and options, with same-day shipping on stocked items and pre-order compatibility support at 845-935-0301.