Outlets right side up or upside down?

[Tscott]

This is not really a practical question, just something I recently noticed. The wife and I went to Rock Island Illinois for a wedding, and I noticed the outlets in the hotel were all turned upside done from what I see in Florida.

Here in Florida, I only see outlets with the ground terminal on the bottom like a face, 2 eyes on top of a round mouth. In Illinois, the ground terminal was on the top. I know there really is no set orientation for outlets, but how does everyone else install them? Is this maybe a state by state thing? A north versus south thing? I know you yanks like to be different

Tom

 

[eborcim]

I prefer them ground side down, but our current home has them opposite that. I'm not going through and changing 100 outlets.

 

[twostory]

I put the ground conductor up on all the outlets in my new garage. You can do it either way in Georgia.

Reason: If a plug is slightly pulled out, the ground conductor will be on top and will not shock you if you touch it.

 

[Gary S]

It doesn't matter which way you put them. Once you have them mounted your way, someone will make a cord that comes out the opposite side and sticks up instead of hanging down like you wanted. It is a conspiracy.

 

[dlewis]

On a lot of commercial application the ground is up to keep items from shorting across the two prongs when stuff falls behind furniture and desks.

 

[thdewey]

I put the ground hole up. I figured that if there was a chance to short one out it would be in the garage. It has metal tools, scrap and parts that could drop on one. I also mounted all my outlets in the garage at 48.5 " from the floor.

 

[z28snksknr]

I like mine "ground on the bottom". If something falls on the plug, it's less likely to come out of the receptacle.

 

[Absea]

The main thing is to keep them all the same for appearance. I always have my ground down.

 

[JamieK]

Around here, electricians seem to orient the plugs that are controlled by a wall switch opposite of the standard outlets.

 

[Nostraquedeo]

They should be installed in manner that allows the the ground to be the first made connection and the last broken connection. If you think about how a plug is usually inserted into an outlet, then it make since that the ground pin would be installed in the up postion where installed below the waist. Above the waist, your angle is going to change when plugging something in, so it might make more since for those to be installed with ground plug down.

 

[rodnok1]

It doesn't matter which way you put them. Once you have them mounted your way, someone will make a cord that comes out the opposite side and sticks up instead of hanging down like you wanted. It is a conspiracy.

Amen to that. Change an A/C window unit and the next one the cord will be the other way...
They like to see the ground lug up, but to me it is easier when the lug is down, I'm probably just retarded though...
If I have a surge protector or a cord on something that doesn't hang right I change it so less stress on the cord.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I was sitting at the vets office waiting for them to wrestle my dog down and take xrays. I noticed they too had the ground pointing up.. I was curious until they said, here is the bill.

 

[Mattlt]

On a lot of commercial application the ground is up to keep items from shorting across the two prongs when stuff falls behind furniture and desks.

Thumbs up on this idea! Also a good idea in the shop, think of things propped against the wall that might someday slide down.

Also, how about when using metal box covers? Not that they would ever come loose, but if they did, wouldn't it be best if they contacted the ground pin first?

 

[Costner]

This is the age old question, but the basic answer is it is one of those personal decisions. Code doesn't dictate the ground on top or on bottom.

However, on commerical outlets with special indicators (dedicated ground indicator on hospital grade receptacles for example) the symbols are generally oriented to have the ground plug on the top. In fact if you look at commercial product literature from companies such as Leviton, it almost always shows the ground on the top and product labeling and symbols are printed in that orientation.

On residential grade products it is just the opposite. The vast majority of the product materials show the ground on the bottom and the engraving on the ears with product name etc suggests the ground should be on the bottom. Of course most electronics manufacturers always design their power bricks to have the ground on the bottom and if you are forced to plug them in with the ground on the top the weight wants to dislodge the plug.

Face it - the chances of something falling against your plug and hitting two exposed conductors of a plug at the exact same time causing a spark etc is so minimal it doesn't even register on the radar. Because of this and the fact that most power bricks are designed to plug into receptacles with the ground on the bottom (even those with no ground have the wide neutral terminal on the left), I think it makes much more sense to have the ground on the bottom for residential applications.

Besides - it just looks stupid the other way, but if someone wants to install their receptacles horizontally so the ground is on the left or the right or if they want to install them at a 45 degree angle that is fine by me... it is 100% up to the individual who is doing the wiring.

 

[twostory]

Besides - it just looks stupid the other way, but if someone wants to install their receptacles horizontally so the ground is on the left or the right or if they want to install them at a 45 degree angle that is fine by me... it is 100% up to the individual who is doing the wiring.

It is considered "fancier" to install the outlet horizontally in the base board. I attached a picture to show what I mean.

 

[Tscott]

Wow, I would never have thought this would be such a hot bed of controversy.

This is pretty much what I figured. I guess it's more a trend by area of the country. Like I said in my original post, even in commercial areas here in Florida you hardly ever see outlets with the ground up.

Well, I'll file this one away with "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" and "why do they call it taking a dump when you are actually leaving a dump?"

Tom

 

[eborcim]

On a lot of commercial application the ground is up to keep items from shorting across the two prongs when stuff falls behind furniture and desks.

I did find a mouse husk across the prongs in a situation like this...guess I was lucky the shop didn't burn down! ...literally

 

[kbs2244]

When I put in a four hole box I put one side one way and the other side the opposite.
That way I am ready for a cord of any configuration.

 

[Number22]

However, on commerical outlets with special indicators (dedicated ground indicator on hospital grade receptacles for example) the symbols are generally oriented to have the ground plug on the top. In fact if you look at commercial product literature from companies such as Leviton, it almost always shows the ground on the top and product labeling and symbols are printed in that orientation.

Definately. I just installed a Leviton outlet with a built in surge protector for my computer. I installed it with the ground down to match the others in my house, but, the writing on the outlet is upside-down. I think some of the industrial outlets I installed in my shop are the same way...I just like putting all the grounds down. That's just how I've always seen it and done it.

 

[krusty the clown]

the ground is supposed to be on top. my dad was an electrician and he always said the phrase "you ground me" meaning the shape of the ground hole in the recepticle should look like a U.

 

[Number22]

the ground is supposed to be on top.

In one man's opinion. That's all it is, an opinion. There is no safety issue involved, or there would be a code for it.

Personally, if I go into a house and see the grounds on top I think 2 things: A) Lazy electrician or B) lazy homeowner. It's just not normal around here...

 

[Stuart in MN]

There's no requirement in the NEC to orient them in any particular way, but different people have different preferences. Here's a link to Mike Holt's page where they discuss why to install them ground up, why to install them ground down, and why it doesn't matter. http://www.mikeholt.com/technical.p...eptacles - Ground Up or Ground Down? (9-23-99)

 

[krusty the clown]

In one man's opinion. That's all it is, an opinion. There is no safety issue involved, or there would be a code for it.

Personally, if I go into a house and see the grounds on top I think 2 things: A) Lazy electrician or B) lazy homeowner. It's just not normal around here...

maybe but i think i will trust a union electrician over an unknown poster

 

[Number22]

maybe but i think i will trust a union electrician over an unknown poster

Trust a union electrician about what? Like everybody says, it's just an opionion. THERE IS NO CODE FOR THIS. Trust me, if it was a safety issue in any way what-so-ever, the NEC would investigate it (I'm sure they already have) and require one way or the other by code. They don't. Not even in industrial settings.

There are plenty of "union electricians" that will tell you one way or the other is right and the other is not. They all have their own opinion as to why.

NEC requires GFCI outlets all over the place now and even GFCI and arc fault circuit breakers now. If there was a safety issue over outlet orientation, they would have fixed it by now.

BTW - everybody here is an "unknown poster" whether they claim to be an electrician or not. This is the internet. That's why I don't make any claims as to what I am, because it is irrelivant here. Let's just say I have enough experience to know what I'm talking about. Also I think unions discredit people if anything, but that's a whole 'nuther topic...

 

[Toolhorder]

It makes sense some of the reasons given for ground side up installs BUT if something did fall across the terminals the circuit breaker should stop someone from getting shocked.

 

[Costner]

the ground is supposed to be on top. my dad was an electrician and he always said the phrase "you ground me" meaning the shape of the ground hole in the recepticle should look like a U.

Well as others have said that is merely your father's opinion. Code allows for the ground to be on the bottom, and thus you can't say it is "supposed to be on top".

It is a matter of personal preference. Nothing more.

 

[Costner]

My dad is lucky to be alive after he dropped a shovel on a ground down outlet. The blade hit the hot lead and knocked him on his ***.

So he dropped a shovel and it just so happened to find the 1/8th inch gap of exposed prongs and stabbed into the plug with enough force to contact both the hot and the neutral leads at the exact same moment that your father was in contact with the shovel itself (which is odd considering you said he dropped it) and the breaker failed to trip and the shovel must have had a solid steel shaft and handle since wood and fiberglass wouldn't conduct electricity and the receptacle must have been 220V or higher in order to be capable of "knocking him on his ***" and forcing you to make a statement like he is "lucky to be alive"???

Yea - I'm raising the BS flag on this one. If you want to install your receptacles ground up by all means have at it, but no need to make up stories to justify your opinion.

 

[Number22]

stabbed into the plug with enough force to contact both the hot and the neutral leads at the exact same moment that your father was in contact with the shovel itself (which is odd considering you said he dropped it) and the breaker failed to trip and the shovel must have had a solid steel shaft and handle since wood and fiberglass wouldn't conduct electricity and the receptacle must have been 220V or higher in order to be capable of "knocking him on his ***"

Well, I think all it would need to contact is the hot wire, thus the cause of electrocution, you become the ground. But I've never seen a shovel with a conductive handle? It doesn't take 220v to knock you on your ***...I've had my fair share of doses of 120v...

BUT, if this did happen, I would consider it to be a totally freak accident, not an inherent safety problem with outlet orientation. There's all kinds of ways to get shocked regardless of how the outlet is pointed.

 

[tcianci]

It is considered "fancier" to install the outlet horizontally in the base board. I attached a picture to show what I mean.

One of the reasons for having the outlet horizontal in the baseboard is that many old homes were constructed without electrical wiring. When the wiring was added, the most convienient way to do it was to remove the baseboards, run the BX and install the outlets in the baseboard.

 

[imavanner2]

In my area ground has to be on top for commercial operation for home it is is personal preference. Base board outlets are not aloud in this area unless it is a replacement outlet.

 

[JBurgess]

If you can't decide install these:

 

[ddawg16]

If the plug has pulled out far enough to expose the prongs, good chance it's not making contact anyway.....

I've heard both sides....and in the kind of work I do....seen plugs put through just about all situations....I don't think one has any real advantage over the other.....

Except....the pull test....

Take a plug and pull down on the cord.....you will tend to find that when the ground lead is up, it pulls out a little easier...with it down, not quite as easy....

 

[Tool Pants]

About 14 years ago my firend helped me wire a garage. He is a commerical electrician. He told me about putting the ground up, which I had never heard of before. It has been a long time, but I think he said it was so you could pull the plug out easier if you are the type that yanks on the cord.

I have an electric lawn mower and have been known to yank on the extension cord. We installed one outside outlet and that one is ground up, so lazy me can yank on the cord when I am done mowing. The inside outlets are ground down because otherwise they look funny.

 

[Number22]

Except....the pull test....

Take a plug and pull down on the cord.....you will tend to find that when the ground lead is up, it pulls out a little easier...with it down, not quite as easy....

Something I've noticed on a lot of older ground down outlets, is that the peice of plastic under the ground hole is often broken out. My guess is that this comes from people yanking on cords and the plastic being the last thing to give way.

In my old shop all the outlets were like that. They were REALLY used and worn out, plugs would fall out of outlets under the weight of the cord alone. All the ground holes were broken out even through the cover plates.

Also take note the ground pin is longer than the hot on a plug, so it should be the last connection to break.


But I think the REAL question is, which direction do I point the one in my ceiling?!

 

[Kevin54]

It is considered "fancier" to install the outlet horizontally in the base board. I attached a picture to show what I mean.

But see.........NOW that brings up the question.......Does the ground go to the LEFT or to the RIGHT

 

[Identaltech]

^^^^^if you buy the ground up theory it should be to the left so the neutral side faces up.

 

[kbs2244]

I like that 3 in 1
Who makes it?

 

[JBurgess]

Leviton Acenti line

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=14708&minisite=10021

 

[WinFred]

old scool was the ground lug showed which way the feed entered the device..

now it's to facilitate the RT angle cord caps so the the cord hangs down and doesn't go up and "rolls" over...

sameo for those device transformers that at polarized...

 

[twii56]

I've always heard that if the ground lug were meant to be installed on the top they'd called it "sky"