Eigenvector posted for all of us...

Well, just to satisfy my own curiosity, and because I knew that continuing
this thread would **** off Tekkie and RicodJour even more,

BWAAAAAAAAAAA there is NO WAY you could **** us off because we realize you are
a fundy putz. (I hope I didn't overstep there Rico)
--
Tekkie "There's no such thing as a tool I don't need."

"RicodJour" wrote in message
ups.com...
Eigenvector wrote:
Well, just to satisfy my own curiosity, and because I knew that
continuing
this thread would **** off Tekkie and RicodJour even more, I have posed
the
question to my local inspectors office. Maybe in a couple of weeks
they'll
respond with a nice sensible answer?

With all the time you save doing half-hearted Borg searches and
avoiding Your Friend Google, why stop with a local yokel? Go straight
to NEMA. Contact AHJs worldwide and ask for their justifications for
having a panoply of receptacle configurations.

R

See, I knew it'd **** you off.

Besides, who care what they think, I only care why my local inspector
thinks.

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:38:47 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:11:08 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

This might sound like a dumb question, but is there a proper orientation for
an outlet? I'm looking at the replacement outlet that I am going to install
and I notice (based purely on the text stamped on the outlet face) that the
text on the outlet is upside down if you put the ground prong on the bottom,
but the text on the outlet is rightside up and readible, the ground prong is
on top of the hot and neutral prong.

Does the orientation matter so far as code is concerned? Is there a reason
why having the ground tap on the top would be necessarily a bad thing - if
only because the cords wouldn't stay in the outlet or you'd have to always
twist the cord 180 degrees when you plugged in.


I have one outlet in each of several rooms that are switched outlets
for lamps. These are oriented opposite the other outlets in the same
rooms (cowgirl position - thanks for the nugget). At a fast glance I
can tell it is switched (builder made). Other homes, switched like
this were all oriented all the same, but the builder put a sticker on
the plastic cover plate - I guess to indicate the switched outlet.

That what about outlets that are HALF switched?
--
68 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:14:32 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:


I have one outlet in each of several rooms that are switched outlets
for lamps. These are oriented opposite the other outlets in the same
rooms (cowgirl position - thanks for the nugget). At a fast glance I
can tell it is switched (builder made). Other homes, switched like
this were all oriented all the same, but the builder put a sticker on
the plastic cover plate - I guess to indicate the switched outlet.

That what about outlets that are HALF switched?

You lost me in three words, but... one plug is hot an the other
switched????? . Don't let me go off half-switched?
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

Oren wrote:

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:14:32 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:


I have one outlet in each of several rooms that are switched outlets
for lamps. These are oriented opposite the other outlets in the same
rooms (cowgirl position - thanks for the nugget). At a fast glance I
can tell it is switched (builder made). Other homes, switched like
this were all oriented all the same, but the builder put a sticker on
the plastic cover plate - I guess to indicate the switched outlet.

That what about outlets that are HALF switched?


You lost me in three words, but... one plug is hot an the other
switched????? .

Sure. Why not?

Don't let me go off half-switched?
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."


--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 03:08:11 GMT, CJT wrote:

Oren wrote:

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:14:32 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:


I have one outlet in each of several rooms that are switched outlets
for lamps. These are oriented opposite the other outlets in the same
rooms (cowgirl position - thanks for the nugget). At a fast glance I
can tell it is switched (builder made). Other homes, switched like
this were all oriented all the same, but the builder put a sticker on
the plastic cover plate - I guess to indicate the switched outlet.

That what about outlets that are HALF switched?


You lost me in three words, but... one plug is hot an the other
switched????? .

Sure. Why not?


You don't know I don't do "electric", so be advised please.

--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

MDT at Paragon Home Inspections, LLC wrote:
The NEC does not care

As a practical matter there is one exception to "it does not
matter" - if you have two or more duplets receptacles side by side it
makes sense to install them in *alternating orientations*, this makes
it more likely you will able to optimize your insertion of a
combinations of plugs and "wall-wart" transformers.

Everyone will make fun of your "sloppy" work, though 8^)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
..
That's heck of a good idea. Haven't got many'double' duplex outlets at
moment but it fits in with my idea!

When I wire a yet to be finished part of our basement am intending to
put in double duplex outlets, using square wall boxes; reason being
that adapters are messy, often cheaply made, tend to protrude from the
wall, may fall out etc. and do not accommodate sufficient plugs.

Also you do run into equipment cords that 'run off' in different
directions, sometimes at right angles (sideways) as it were. I keep any
old cut off equipment cords with odd configuration on the off chance
that they may be useful.

e.g. In kitchen we have a 'battery charger' for those small AA, D cell
batteries etc. whch has a moulded grounding plug, with cord that runs
off the plug oddly! Even though the charger is completely enclosed and
seemingly could use a two pin/polarized plug. Maybe the input-output/s
of the charger are electrically not isolated; although unit seems
heavy enough to contain an isolating transformer?

Also take a typical computer installation, (1) monitor, (2) the PC
itself (3) Modem or router (4) printer or scanner etc. That's four
sockets right there. The whole computer set up doesn't need a lot of
the power available on a 15 amp circuit/outlet. Then if you want to
plug in something else such as a radio or a soldering iron to do a
small repair you need an extension cord to the next outlet which is
hidden behind a heavy file cabinet or something!!!!

Similarly on work bench often have three items plugged in at same time
in order to work on something.

So double duplex outlets, installed in 'opposite' directions at about
waist level (just above desk-bench top height) it will be.

Thanks for the suggestion; oh, with a GFI outlet for downstream
protection in each circuit. Cos our panel is equipped with standard
Square D breakers, circa 1970s. Very happy that back then we installed
a 200 amp service and big enough panel; still got a few spare
positions!

Another idea; I may just install the duplex outlets 'sideways'?????????

Rich wrote:
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
This might sound like a dumb question, but is there a proper orientation
for an outlet? I'm looking at the replacement outlet that I am going to
install and I notice (based purely on the text stamped on the outlet face)
that the text on the outlet is upside down if you put the ground prong on
the bottom, but the text on the outlet is rightside up and readible, the
ground prong is on top of the hot and neutral prong.

Does the orientation matter so far as code is concerned? Is there a
reason why having the ground tap on the top would be necessarily a bad
thing - if only because the cords wouldn't stay in the outlet or you'd
have to always twist the cord 180 degrees when you plugged in.


Ground lug up, for the reason that if a metal cover plate comes off it hits
the ground first. Left to right orientation the hot goes up.

Rich


I had an interesting test of it a short time ago. A metal clothes
hanger fell behind a desk hitting a plug that was partially out (ground
plug down). Sparks and blew the breaker!!

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:06:10 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:14:32 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:


I have one outlet in each of several rooms that are switched outlets
for lamps. These are oriented opposite the other outlets in the same
rooms (cowgirl position - thanks for the nugget). At a fast glance I
can tell it is switched (builder made). Other homes, switched like
this were all oriented all the same, but the builder put a sticker on
the plastic cover plate - I guess to indicate the switched outlet.

That what about outlets that are HALF switched?

You lost me in three words, but... one plug is hot an the other
switched????? . Don't let me go off half-switched?

The house I used to live in had one of those under the sink. The
switched half was meant for the garbage disposal that wasn't there
yet. I did add a disposal later and it just plugged in. The
non-switched half was already used for a dishwasher.

I know of another house around here that has 2 half-switched outlets,
meant for lamps on the ends of a couch.

BTW, I've once seen some strange receptacles. One side of those was
normal 120V 15A, but the other looked like it would accept 20A (but
NOT 15A) plugs.
--
67 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

George E. Cawthon wrote:

This has been discussed many times here. You can
orient the plug any way you want including
horizontally. Most plugs seem to be oriented with
the hole (ground) on the bottom, but other houses
have the ground on the top. Flat plugs are often
formed so that a plug with the ground on the
bottom is best. Orient it any way you want, you
can always turn it over later if you want a
different orientation.

I've seen the patents for two-prong polarized receptacles that are
rotatable. The part you plug into is part of a sphere that can rotate
inside it's socket so you can have the plug oriented however you'd
like. Haven't seen a 3 prong patent, but then again I didn't look.

I'm not sure anyone manufactures them. Anyone ever seen one of those
suckers installed?

R

RicodJour wrote:

I've seen the patents for two-prong polarized receptacles that are
rotatable. The part you plug into is part of a sphere that can rotate
inside it's socket so you can have the plug oriented however you'd
like. Haven't seen a 3 prong patent, but then again I didn't look.

I'm not sure anyone manufactures them. Anyone ever seen one of those
suckers installed?

Seems Leviton has another solution.
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model...C3B0DCE2F3 B3

R

"RicodJour" wrote in message
ups.com...
RicodJour wrote:

I've seen the patents for two-prong polarized receptacles that are
rotatable. The part you plug into is part of a sphere that can rotate
inside it's socket so you can have the plug oriented however you'd
like. Haven't seen a 3 prong patent, but then again I didn't look.

I'm not sure anyone manufactures them. Anyone ever seen one of those
suckers installed?

Seems Leviton has another solution.
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model...C3B0DCE2F3 B3

R


Now we can debate if the blue dot goes up or down?

Rich

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:09:47 -0500, "Rich"
wrote:


"RicodJour" wrote in message
oups.com...
RicodJour wrote:

I've seen the patents for two-prong polarized receptacles that are
rotatable. The part you plug into is part of a sphere that can rotate
inside it's socket so you can have the plug oriented however you'd
like. Haven't seen a 3 prong patent, but then again I didn't look.

I'm not sure anyone manufactures them. Anyone ever seen one of those
suckers installed?

Seems Leviton has another solution.
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model...C3B0DCE2F3 B3

R


Now we can debate if the blue dot goes up or down?

Rich


"blue" is associated with depression, so it goes down.

Look into Ng tankless, I have a Bosch and will get a 4.5-5yr payback.

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 17:25:29 -0500, Sam E
wrote:

Seems Leviton has another solution.
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model...C3B0DCE2F3 B3
Now we can debate if the blue dot goes up or down?


"blue" is associated with depression, so it goes down.

The fifth bullet down: "Soothing blue Monitor/Indicator LED provides
surge protection status at a glance".

105 bucks a pop....
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."