question to be answered

[pudgybear]

when installing a double receptacle why do they sometimes put the ground plug hole on top, is it just a personal preference? any advantage or disadvantage to doing it this way

 

[ForceFed70]

Ground prong up top is actually the correct way to do it. This is the way outlets were originally designed to be installed and I've been told that it is actually code to do it this way although few people do and inspectors don't seem to care.

Apparently, it's supposed to be this way to prevent something from falling down the wall and shorting between the 2 conductors.

 

[joe_padavano]

Apparently, it's supposed to be this way to prevent something from falling down the wall and shorting between the 2 conductors.

It's not explicitly called out in the code, but putting the ground pin up is good practice for the reason above. If the plug gets partly pulled out of the socket, any metallic item that's dropped (knife, screwdriver, etc) will hit the ground pin first, then one of the live conductors. Is this something I loose sleep over? No, but any new installations I install with the ground pin up.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Some local electrical inspectors have made it code to be up and others have made it be down. It depends on the local inspectors and the code they have written and enforce,

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Nothing in the National Electric Code about this. Many will argue one way or another, some will say it is a requirement, but only if you are having the job inspected and local inspectors call for it, must you do it with the ground pin on top. Otherwise its totally personal preference.

Personally I despise the pin on top. The ground pin is longer, so I take a three pin plug and tilt it so the prongs are pointing somewhat upward and touch the ground pin to the hole (it is a depth perception issue for me if the plug is low, like in the house) and once the ground pin is started in the hole I raise the plug to horizontal and push it in. Doing this I can easily see everything. I also remember that, with the ground pin down, the wide blade (neutral) is on the left, so I know to turn my two prong plug that way as I reach to insert it in the receptacle.

In the shop the plugs are all high up, as much as 4 ft, though some are 24 to 28 inches on the legs of the workbenches.

If you have a location where something such as a refrigerator with a 90 degree plug on the cord will be sitting, you will want to position the receptacle so the cord hangs down.

Charles

 

[Falcon67]

My take is, that if something falls down there and shorts out your plug, well plug it in properly next time. And why assume this "object" won't short across the ground pin and hot when the ground pin is up, thus causing the same result. I hate upside down plugs.

 

[RPH]

Ground pin down as it supposed to break the connection last. Another reason for the pin being longer is that it makes first. Unit is grounded before putting power to it.

 

[Steevo]

The only "upside down" receptacles (ground on top) in any house I have owned, were those that were controlled by a wall switch. Even that isn't consistent, but when done is helpful to identify which receptacle that switch controls.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Okay, I hate them installed upside down as well (it is an aesthetic thing for me) but what the hell is this:

Makes me dizzy just looking at it!


http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/next-gen-outlet-helps-you-plug-into-energy-savings/

 

[justsam]

Okay, I hate them installed upside down as well (it is an aesthetic thing for me) but what the hell is this:

Makes me dizzy just looking at it!


http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/next-gen-outlet-helps-you-plug-into-energy-savings/

I think it was designed to end the never ending argument about ground pin up or down!

 

[Norcal]

Ground prong up or down is a matter of personal preference or job specs, there is nothing in the NEC mandating either & the NEC code committees refuse to touch the subject, & on any professional electrical forums, any thread on that subject will get locked.

My own preference is up, but most I install are down.

 

[Spam16v]

All my garage ones are up. Kitchen ground faults are down....

 

[DirtRoad]

All my shop ones are up

 

[Grumpy365]

Ground prong up top is actually the correct way to do it. This is the way outlets were originally designed to be installed and I've been told that it is actually code to do it this way although few people do and inspectors don't seem to care.

Apparently, it's supposed to be this way to prevent something from falling down the wall and shorting between the 2 conductors.

That is not a true statement.
It may not be wrong to have the pin up, but there is no imperical data that makes it correct.


I am trying to picture the item or chain of events where a item could possibly fall straight down the wall in the way you described, and I can't visualize any REALISTIC scenario this could happen.

I might as well say if a flat item came thru the floor, at least it would hit the ground first. Or if the house flooded,i perfer the ground would get wet first.

 

[RECox286]

What a wistful conversation ! If you never noticed, the male cord end

always is ground pin down. I've never seen it any other way, so why

would anyone want to invert the receptacle to begin with, putting the

ground pin up, then having to invert the male cord end to get it plugged

into an upside down receptacle ?

There are some things that just shouldn't be fooled with.

Uncle Bob

 

[Stuart in MN]

This subject comes up here about once every month or two. Do it whichever way you like.

 

[kenfath]

In the days of old, when life was much simpler, the recepticles were mounted horizontally. Or that's the way they were in my first home built in 1964.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

What a wistful conversation ! If you never noticed, the male cord end

always is ground pin down. I've never seen it any other way, so why

would anyone want to invert the receptacle to begin with, putting the

ground pin up, then having to invert the male cord end to get it plugged

into an upside down receptacle ?

There are some things that just shouldn't be fooled with.

Uncle Bob

Pay attention anytime you are in a commercial establishment, fast food place, restroom, just about anywhere but at home, and you will find that virtually all commercial installations put the ground pin up, not sure why, but they do.

As far as the sideways receptacles, my log house has them that way in the exterior wall. The owner installed them willy-nilly without regard to putting the ground pin left or right. Made plugging in polarized two pin plugs a trial and error thing, until I replaced all of the cheap receptacles and oriented them with the ground pin to the left.

Charles

 

[CNGsaves]

Depends on the woman . . . . .

. . . . . some like to be on top,

and

. . . . some like to be on bottom !!

 

[acer66]

In the days of old, when life was much simpler, the recepticles were mounted horizontally. Or that's the way they were in my first home built in 1964.

Like in our '47 house but we started arguing if they should go left or right.
I say the ground pin should face away from the next door way or window.

 

[Alchymist]

Pay attention anytime you are in a commercial establishment, fast food place, restroom, just about anywhere but at home, and you will find that virtually all commercial installations put the ground pin up, not sure why, but they do.

As far as the sideways receptacles, my log house has them that way in the exterior wall. The owner installed them willy-nilly without regard to putting the ground pin left or right. Made plugging in polarized two pin plugs a trial and error thing, until I replaced all of the cheap receptacles and oriented them with the ground pin to the left.

Charles

Like in our '47 house but we started arguing if they should go left or right.
I say the ground pin should face away from the next door way or window.

ALWAYS put the ground pin on the right when installing horizontal - unless you are left handed.

 

[the gypsy]

Ground prong up top is actually the correct way to do it. This is the way outlets were originally designed to be installed and I've been told that it is actually code to do it this way although few people do and inspectors don't seem to care.

Apparently, it's supposed to be this way to prevent something from falling down the wall and shorting between the 2 conductors.

I heard the same thing a long time ago. But Hydro Quebec has an add showing the opposite (with the ground plug on the bottom) making it look like a face. I wonder why that is? Maybe it is because we are a distinct society? WHO KNOWS?

 

[pepi]

Okay, I hate them installed upside down as well (it is an aesthetic thing for me) but what the hell is this:

Makes me dizzy just looking at it!


http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/03/next-gen-outlet-helps-you-plug-into-energy-savings/

That's having it both ways, AKA lawyer/politician receptacle.