Chrome Outlet Cover

[Luckydevil]

It wasn't cheap, but worth all $3 since I only need one of them. :lol:

They are a tight fit so I had to adjust the outlets a few times to get the plate to sit right. I thought they might be a bit too much, but they actually look really good on white wall.

[ringer]

Pimpin!!!

[TOMWELDS]

Nice plate...now do a good job and line up the screw slots!... :lol_hitti

See what i mean by putting the ground prong 'up'? Good to have a pic to see my point. Good job ,man :beer:

[REFLEXX]

chrome = speed


faster electrons!!!!!

[ranger_dood]

Tom- having the ground prong up is the biggest thing that annoys the HELL out of me in our new house. I understand the safety concerns, but it just doesn't look right!

BTW- does anyone make chromed (or silver) plastic outlets? Even with raw steel covers, it'd look better with a silver outlet. I suppose spray paint could be employed, but I'm not sure it would stick without prepwork.

[JonT]

Can the electricians here explain the ground plug up thing? Looks upside-down to most people. How is it safer?
thanks
Jon

[REFLEXX]

if the plug is slightly pulled out and something falls on it (butterknife / screwdriver / etc) you have a short. IF the ground lug is up, no issue. I think.

[TOMWELDS]

In a house, we mostly install plastic plates. So i put the ground 'down'. In commercial work, metal plates are often used. So we put the ground 'up'. Why? Iv'e seen a couple times were the plate (mainly duplex receptacles, because they have a single screw) comes loose. It falls and lands on the hot and neutral prongs. Or worse yet, it touch's when you unplug it..BANG. If you use decora (two screws) or multiple gang covers, it will probably never happen. Just something else to put on your list of 'things to look out for'...lol

[87SS]

I actually bought those same covers for my bathroom;)

[Bradley Miller]

Ok -- well, that's the first time I've heard of an actual explaination as to why the ground plug is on top, but I've gotta point out that once you get a polarized wall-wart (transformer) they will fall out of the wall if they're very heavy. If I was so concerned that I'd accidently drop a metal object on my 1/2 unplugged equipment, I'd probably never get in a car either. :-)

[Rothaus]

I like that crome cover !:thumbup:

In my case I needed a lot of them so I went with the stainless steel. They turned out also nice on the wall with the blue stripe.

6168

:beer:

Cheers

[HotRodderAZ]

Actually the way it was explained to me is that the outlets that have GFI are to be upside down, and ones going to breaker are normal. Just my pennies for thoughts.

James

[iiibdsiil]

So what about the ones that are sideways? God, I hate that.

BTW Luke, if that is too much, you can try the stainless steel. I did my old bedroom in those, and it looked real sharp. As soon as I get my new place (next weekend), I'm changing all the outlets and switches to the square ones like you have pictured, and going to do the stainless covers.

[hell_fish_65]

Actually the way it was explained to me is that the outlets that have GFI are to be upside down, and ones going to breaker are normal. Just my pennies for thoughts.

James
New codes say all must have ground up. Its mainly children don't get shocked from pulling out plugs. With ground up, if their thumb slips off it contacts the ground and they wont get zapped.

[bmwpower]

New codes say all must have ground up. Its mainly children don't get shocked from pulling out plugs. With ground up, if their thumb slips off it contacts the ground and they wont get zapped.

This is in the new code? NEC?

I don't see how the ground up is going to prevent someone from shocking themselves when pulling out plugs.

[Bradley Miller]

Good gravy -- how many kids are pulling out three wire devices and getting zapped? :headscrat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

If this is code, then GFI outlets would read upside down???

[InPrimer]

slightly O/T, but what I do is all covers have a # of the breaker on the back corresponding with the breaker that shuts it off so if I have to do any work on that circuit, I don't have to keep popping breakers until i find the correct one .................cheap and lazy

[malibu101]

This is in the new code? NEC?

I don't see how the ground up is going to prevent someone from shocking themselves when pulling out plugs.

A few versions of NEC ago (too lazy to look at 05 NEC) they said that any writing on the face of device must be readable (not written "upside down" as installed). Such as someone above mentioned the face of A GFCI outlet.
EDIT_ I just glanced through the 05 NEC. I don't even see anything to support my above statement!

[kenfath]

I installed chrome plated covers on the double-duplex garage outlets. They looked sharp! The reason they were used on only the double outlets was that was what was in the bargain bin. The only problem I had with them was they rusted in time. When the garage receives its major overhaul the wall and ceiling plates will (probably) be plastic.

[HabitatPro]

I helped a buddy wire his shop. We clearly decided all were grond prong up. His moron bro in law shows up and dives in to help. 1/3 of the outlets...even after the moron was coached...are ground plug down.

So...my buddy after about a month of looking at them goes back in and fixes it. My wife and I went over while he was on vacation and put all different cover plates on...white, dark brn some beige.....

Fun to make totally anal people crazy.

[bobs409]

I bet you guys didn't know that these type of covers were popular back in the 40's-50's. Back when people were proud to show off their outlets as it was a big deal to have electricity! Now a days, we try to hide them. lol

I have an old very small apartment above my old garage that has these covers. They are rusty now after all the years but are original and old.


Bob

[wilbilt]

My father, with 50 or so years as an electrician and engineer, has always told me receptacles should be installed with the ground up for this reason.

I have generally installed them with the ground down :dunno:

My employer opened a new elementary school about a year ago, and all receptacles were installed "ground up". I asked the head electrician on the job about it, and he said it is now a code requirement.

I wonder if it applies to twist locks?

[Uncle Buck]

New codes say all must have ground up. Its mainly children don't get shocked from pulling out plugs. With ground up, if their thumb slips off it contacts the ground and they wont get zapped.

Do you are anyone following this thread know the actual NEC number as it is found in the book that applies to this? Also, what year version of the NEC will have this rule in it, cause I want to actually read it in the book?

[MAD]

Do you are anyone following this thread know the actual NEC number as it is found in the book that applies to this? Also, what year version of the NEC will have this rule in it, cause I want to actually read it in the book?

I do not believe there is any mention in the National Electric Code of a proper orientation for (NEMA 5-15, 5-20) parallel blade + ground receptacles. I think that as long as the manufacturer of the receptacle does not specify an orientation, it is not an NEC code violation to install the outlet ground up, ground down, or sideways.

It still could be in State or local code somewhere though. Although state and local code is based on the NEC, they can have additional mandatory or permissive rules that are not part of the NEC.

[Major Ramifications]

Ok -- well, that's the first time I've heard of an actual explaination as to why the ground plug is on top, but I've gotta point out that once you get a polarized wall-wart (transformer) they will fall out of the wall if they're very heavy. If I was so concerned that I'd accidently drop a metal object on my 1/2 unplugged equipment, I'd probably never get in a car either. :-)

AMEN! I couldn't agree more. Not just transformers, but regular 3-prong plugs tend to fall out when the ground is up.
Like political correctness, ground up is just RETARDED! There is no logical reason to put the ground prong up. If the ground prong is up, the outlet is upside down. Try again.
Damn, that ground up shit just pisses me off. I mean, I don't run around with a super-strong umbrella over my head in case a flying saucer crash lands on top of me. Anyone with a little imagination can what-if themselves right into a nuthouse.
I will spend the rest of my life installing outlets with the ground down and will fix any wrong ones I come across. "Stamping out stupidity one outlet at a time."

Oh, and btw, nice outlet cover.

[boiler7904]

If I remember right, putting the ground to one side has the same effect as putting it up and eliminates the problem with plugs falling out.

[PAToyota]

If you're going to put it to the side, just make sure that the neutral is the one on the top...