On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:07:00 -0600, Don Fearn
wrote:

Is there a "right" way for wall outlets to face?

Should they be

| |
O

| |
O


or


O
| |

O
| |



and why?



The top way makes little faces and the ground pin is closer to the
ground, but it seems like the bottom way might be safer (something
metal would hit the ground pin first if it fell). Any other reasons to
prefer one way over the other? How about sideways (I won't attempt
ASCII art for sideways).

-Don


IMHO:

I think it's a personal preference for home's. In commercial places,
there is some belief if the screw becomes loose, pops out, and the
'metal' face plate falls, on a partially inserted plug, you can get a
spark that causes a fire. This sounds like a lot of "what if's", but
you need to do what you are instructed.

Personally I like grounds down, since the index finger has a habit of
migrating to one of the prongs, so best if it's the grounding prong.

hth,

tom @ www.mesothelioma-poll.com