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3 prong outlet, which way is up?
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets?
Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
"john" wrote in message ... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Ground down. How often do dropped coins slide down a wall? |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
Ground down. the other way looks stupid.
s "john" wrote in message ... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 6:07*pm, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: Ground down. *the other way looks stupid. s "john" wrote in ... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...2/Electrical_o... or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - But little kids dont think its a face. When my daughter was little the only outlet in her room that she could see frightened her until I turned it with the ground up. Jimmie |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On 8/28/2008 3:07 PM Steve Barker DLT spake thus:
Ground down. the other way looks stupid. That's probably as good as answer as any (basically, "it's completely arbitrary, so orient it the way 99% of other outlets are oriented".) However, there are good reasons to put them in "upside down" (i.e., ground pin up). Last time I was in a hospital, I noticed that almost all the outlets were "upside down", and later heard/read that this is to prevent sparks and shocks should a metal implement fall down along the wall and contact a plug in an outlet. Makes sense. I'm even starting to put in some outlets this way. Oh, and I've also noticed that having the ground pin on top tends to hold 3-prong plugs in the outlet more tightly and resist the plug falling out, like when you're using an extension cord and tug on it. -- "In 1964 Barry Goldwater declared: 'Elect me president, and I will bomb the cities of Vietnam, defoliate the jungles, herd the population into concentration camps and turn the country into a wasteland.' But Lyndon Johnson said: 'No! No! No! Don't you dare do that. Let ME do it.'" - Characterization (paraphrased) of the 1964 Goldwater/Johnson presidential race by Professor Irwin Corey, "The World's Foremost Authority". |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:59:39 -0700, "john" wrote:
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. I prefer the ground at the bottom. All outlets should have the same orientation. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
JIMMIE wrote:
But little kids dont think its a face. When my daughter was little the only outlet in her room that she could see frightened her until I turned it with the ground up. Yahbut, it's good that little kids are frightened of outlets? Perhaps you should've plugged in those little plastic 'childproofers' into the outlets to disguise them? g |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
"Steve Barker DLT" wrote in message ... Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Horizontally. Then everybody can obsess about trivialities. Geesh! |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:59:39 -0700, "john" wrote:
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg Discussions here have centered around ground down, except when the outlet is on a wall switch. I doubt most people would know that code if they didn't own the home when it was under construction, but those who pay attention could notice the difference and ask or figure it out. I have 3 receptacles on wall switches. I should check them..... The one I can get to is ground down, like the other outlets in the house. That's what happens when the electrician is a durn furiner. The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. I read that here too, and is my nature, I believe things when I first hear them. But in my life, I've only dropped coins in the middle of the bedroom when I take off my pants, and off the front edge of kitchen table. I also don't have any loosely plugged in plugs, and if I did, I can't imagine a coin getting in one. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:07:02 -0500, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. But that wouldn't be true if we grew up standing on our heads. s "john" wrote in message ... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:07:02 -0500, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Calling someone stupid for asking a question is...stupid. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:27:45 -0400, Claude Hopper
wrote: john wrote: Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. I like my outlets on the floor. The ones on the counter are sideways. Oh-oh. Now which way should they be oriented? North (up on a map)? Toward the power company? Toward Mecca? You better do it right or you may get called stupid. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
www.tworivershospital.com/
"JIMMIE" wrote in message ... But little kids dont think its a face. When my daughter was little the only outlet in her room that she could see frightened her until I turned it with the ground up. Jimmie |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
I didn't call anyone stupid. I said upside down outlets look stupid. And
they do. s "Lurfys Maw" wrote in message ... On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:07:02 -0500, "Steve Barker DLT" wrote: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Calling someone stupid for asking a question is...stupid. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
Steve Barker DLT wrote:
Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Also to be considered is that plugs mounted 90 degrees to the cord don't work very well with ground at the top. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
"PanHandler" wrote in message . .. "Steve Barker DLT" wrote in message ... Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Horizontally. Then everybody can obsess about trivialities. Geesh! Ground left or right? Please advise. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up? NOT AGAIN!!!!!
john posted for all of us...
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. What is this? About the 3 billionth time this has been discussed? -- Tekkie - I approve this advertisement/statement/utterance. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
"Steve Barker DLT" wrote in
: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. s "john" wrote in message ... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../Electrical_ou tlet_with_label.jpg/800px-Electrical_outlet_with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Direct quote from the NEC I bet :-) |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
Lurfys Maw wrote in
: On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:07:02 -0500, "Steve Barker DLT" wrote: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Calling someone stupid for asking a question is...stupid. When was anyone called stupid? He just said the other way looks stupid. OK, he insulted a duplex outlet just because it's orientation is different. In some states it is a Hate Crime to discriminate because of orientation. He should expect to be served with a lawsuit from the National Brotherhood of Duplex Outlets shortly. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
YA, i hope they don't send out a bunch of QUEERS to serve the papers.
s "Red Green" wrote in message ... OK, he insulted a duplex outlet just because it's orientation is different. In some states it is a Hate Crime to discriminate because of orientation. He should expect to be served with a lawsuit from the National Brotherhood of Duplex Outlets shortly. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up? NOT AGAIN!!!!!
"Tekkie®" wrote in message . .. john posted for all of us... Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. What is this? About the 3 billionth time this has been discussed? So what? Tony -- Tekkie - I approve this advertisement/statement/utterance. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
In article ,
"Rick Brandt" wrote: Steve Barker DLT wrote: Ground down. the other way looks stupid. Also to be considered is that plugs mounted 90 degrees to the cord don't work very well with ground at the top. Excellent point. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 9:00*pm, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: www.tworivershospital.com/ "JIMMIE" wrote in message ... But little kids dont think its a face. When my daughter was little the only outlet in her room that she could see frightened her until I turned it with the ground up. Jimmie Steve, Thank you for the link to the Two Rivers Hospital site, but I couldn't find anything about ground-prong orientation on any of their pages. I even checked the FAQ - nothing there about receptacle installation. Oh, gotta go. The short bus just pulled up. I'll read your response later. D*mn, where's my helmet? |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 9:35*pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"PanHandler" wrote in message . .. "Steve Barker DLT" wrote in message ... Ground down. *the other way looks stupid. Horizontally. Then everybody can obsess about trivialities. Geesh! Ground left or right? *Please advise. Left, so the neutral is up. (following the same reasoning that would indicate that the ground should be up when installed vertically.) nate |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 8:01*pm, mm wrote:
On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:59:39 -0700, "john" wrote: Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...2/Electrical_o... or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg Discussions here have centered around ground down, except when the outlet is on a wall switch. * I *doubt most people would know that code if they didn't own the home when it was under construction, but those who pay attention could notice the difference and ask or figure it out. I have 3 receptacles on wall switches. I should check them..... *The one I can get to is ground down, like the other outlets in the house. That's what happens when the electrician is a durn furiner. The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. I read that here too, and is my nature, I believe things when I first hear them. * But in my life, I've only dropped coins in the middle of the bedroom when I take off my pants, and off the front edge of kitchen table. * I also don't have any loosely plugged in plugs, and if I did, I can't imagine a coin getting in one. * The reasoning I heard was that if you use metal cover plates and the screw that secures the cover plate comes loose, the cover could actually slide down and if you weren't paying attention could hit the prongs of a plug as it's being removed. With the ground up this is harmless; with the ground down you could energize the cover plate and/ or short the hot and neutral prongs of the plug if it fell just so. An infinetesimally rare possibility, but a non-zero one. nate |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 4:59*pm, "john" wrote:
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on tophttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Electrical_o... or ground on bottomhttp://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/00/34/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Years ago I worked at a factory where the electricians were required to install all outlets ground up. I was told that since there was more of a chance that a metal object would come in contact with a loose plug from the top than from the bottom, and since in the vast majority of the installations the type of cord would not be an issue, they opted for the "safer" method. In other words, if it makes the factory just a tad bit safer, and really has no other impact (other then writing it up in the procedure manual) then why not? |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 6:07*pm, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: Ground down. *the other way looks stupid. s I would have to guess the other way looks stupid because nearly every one is installed the other way. There are only two arguments that seem to make sense. Ground up, does appear to have a slight safety advantage. Notice I did say SLIGHT. Ground up does not work well with all plugs (then again ground down does not work well with some other plugs.) I don't intend to loose sleep over it, but all my plugs that get added or worked on are ground up. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 29, 9:45*am, wrote:
On Aug 28, 6:07*pm, "Steve Barker wrote: Ground down. *the other way looks stupid. s * * I would have to guess the other way looks stupid because nearly every one is installed the other way. * * There are only two arguments that seem to make sense. * * Ground up, does appear to have a slight safety advantage. *Notice I did say SLIGHT. * * Ground up does not work well with all plugs (then again ground down does not work well with some other plugs.) * * I don't intend to loose sleep over it, but all my plugs that get added or worked on are ground up. I find it funny that the NEC seems to cover every detail you could think of, but not this one. Mark |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 28, 6:44*pm, "PanHandler" wrote:
"Steve Barker DLT" wrote in ... Ground down. *the other way looks stupid. Horizontally. Then everybody can obsess about trivialities. Geesh! Preferred orientation then is on the left. More info page 240, Traister's ' Electrical Wiring' ISBN1-57218-092-7 at your local library. The Pass & Seymour/Legrand product catalog shows all receptacles in the vertical mode with ground at top. Note the ground position on receptacles at a hospital next time you visit...grounds at top. Joe |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
I never paid much attention but just a couple months ago a metal
hangar fell behind a dresser. There was a big flash and a breaker blew. The plug behind the dresser was not plugged in all the way and luck would have it the hanger shorted out the contacts. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
i meant for your daughter who is afraid of an inanimate object.
s "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ... Steve, Thank you for the link to the Two Rivers Hospital site, but I couldn't find anything about ground-prong orientation on any of their pages. I even checked the FAQ - nothing there about receptacle installation. Oh, gotta go. The short bus just pulled up. I'll read your response later. D*mn, where's my helmet? |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
that's because it doesn't matter.
s "Mark" wrote in message ... I find it funny that the NEC seems to cover every detail you could think of, but not this one. Mark |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 29, 12:12*pm, "Steve Barker DLT"
wrote: i meant for your daughter who is afraid of an inanimate object. s "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ... Steve, Thank you for the link to the Two Rivers Hospital site, but I couldn't find anything about ground-prong orientation on any of their pages. I even checked the FAQ - nothing there about receptacle installation. Oh, gotta go. The short bus just pulled up. I'll read your response later. D*mn, where's my helmet? It wasn't my daughter...that was somebody else. Guess you didn't get the short bus/helmet reference. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 29, 11:29*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Aug 28, 4:59*pm, "john" wrote: Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on tophttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Electrical_o... or ground on bottomhttp://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/00/34/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Years ago I worked at a factory where the electricians were required to install all outlets ground up. I was told that since there was more of a chance that a metal object would come in contact with a loose plug from the top than from the bottom, and since in the vast majority of the installations the type of cord would not be an issue, they opted for the "safer" method. In other words, if it makes the factory just a tad bit safer, and really has no other impact (other then writing it up in the procedure manual) then why not? I agree. Or at least I did until most of the el-cheapo stuff such as wall warts, night lights, air fresheners, shaver and cell phone chargers etc. etc. etc. all the ancillary gear we seem to have to plug in these days, seem to be ground pin down! Also thinking; if and when I ever finish off and wire my basement area, I will install two duplex outlets in each location and one will be UP and the other DOWN. However will probably then find then that things plugged into one duplex outlet will interfere with things plugged into t'other adjacent duplex! It's probably this confusion and the increasing number of 'gadgets' that has lead the profusion of cheap and in some cases very nasty 'power bars' into which we then plug, even more, higgledy-piggledy too many of the power supplies for the various gadgets.. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 29, 12:51*pm, terry wrote:
On Aug 29, 11:29*am, DerbyDad03 wrote: On Aug 28, 4:59*pm, "john" wrote: Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on tophttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Electrical_o... or ground on bottomhttp://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/00/34/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Years ago I worked at a factory where the electricians were required to install all outlets ground up. I was told that since there was more of a chance that a metal object would come in contact with a loose plug from the top than from the bottom, and since in the vast majority of the installations the type of cord would not be an issue, they opted for the "safer" method. In other words, if it makes the factory just a tad bit safer, and really has no other impact (other then writing it up in the procedure manual) then why not? I agree. Or at least I did until most of the el-cheapo stuff such as wall warts, night lights, air fresheners, shaver and cell phone chargers etc. etc. etc. all the ancillary gear we seem to have to plug in these days, seem to be ground pin down! Also thinking; if and when I ever finish off and wire my basement area, I will install two duplex outlets in each location and one will be UP and the other DOWN. However will probably then find then that things plugged into one duplex outlet will interfere with things plugged into t'other adjacent duplex! It's probably this confusion and the increasing number of 'gadgets' that has lead the profusion of cheap and in some cases very nasty 'power bars' into which we then plug, even more, higgledy-piggledy too many of the power supplies for the various gadgets..- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - None of the "wall warts, night lights, air fresheners, shaver and cell phone chargers" that I own have ground pins. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On 8/29/2008 8:50 AM Rich256 spake thus:
I never paid much attention but just a couple months ago a metal hangar fell behind a dresser. There was a big flash and a breaker blew. The plug behind the dresser was not plugged in all the way and luck would have it the hanger shorted out the contacts. There you have it. I think this one data point is enough to tilt the argument in favor of ground pin up. Since it's otherwise arbitrary, why not do the safer thing? So far as the orientation of 90° plugs goes, I've seen them made both ways, so it really doesn't matter which way you put the outlet: the plug is going to be going the wrong way half the time anyhow. -- "In 1964 Barry Goldwater declared: 'Elect me president, and I will bomb the cities of Vietnam, defoliate the jungles, herd the population into concentration camps and turn the country into a wasteland.' But Lyndon Johnson said: 'No! No! No! Don't you dare do that. Let ME do it.'" - Characterization (paraphrased) of the 1964 Goldwater/Johnson presidential race by Professor Irwin Corey, "The World's Foremost Authority". |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
I got it.
s "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ... On Aug 29, 12:12 pm, "Steve Barker DLT" wrote: i meant for your daughter who is afraid of an inanimate object. s "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ... Steve, Thank you for the link to the Two Rivers Hospital site, but I couldn't find anything about ground-prong orientation on any of their pages. I even checked the FAQ - nothing there about receptacle installation. Oh, gotta go. The short bus just pulled up. I'll read your response later. D*mn, where's my helmet? It wasn't my daughter...that was somebody else. Guess you didn't get the short bus/helmet reference. |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
It's soooooooooo far fetched, it's doubtful it actually happened.
s "David Nebenzahl" wrote in message s.com... I never paid much attention but just a couple months ago a metal hangar fell behind a dresser. There was a big flash and a breaker blew. The plug behind the dresser was not plugged in all the way and luck would have it the hanger shorted out the contacts. There you have it. I think this one data point is enough to tilt the argument in favor of ground pin up. Since it's otherwise arbitrary, why not do the safer thing? |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
On Aug 29, 12:56*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Aug 29, 12:51*pm, terry wrote: On Aug 29, 11:29*am, DerbyDad03 wrote: On Aug 28, 4:59*pm, "john" wrote: Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on tophttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Electrical_o... or ground on bottomhttp://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/00/34/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Years ago I worked at a factory where the electricians were required to install all outlets ground up. I was told that since there was more of a chance that a metal object would come in contact with a loose plug from the top than from the bottom, and since in the vast majority of the installations the type of cord would not be an issue, they opted for the "safer" method. In other words, if it makes the factory just a tad bit safer, and really has no other impact (other then writing it up in the procedure manual) then why not? I agree. Or at least I did until most of the el-cheapo stuff such as wall warts, night lights, air fresheners, shaver and cell phone chargers etc. etc. etc. all the ancillary gear we seem to have to plug in these days, seem to be ground pin down! Also thinking; if and when I ever finish off and wire my basement area, I will install two duplex outlets in each location and one will be UP and the other DOWN. However will probably then find then that things plugged into one duplex outlet will interfere with things plugged into t'other adjacent duplex! It's probably this confusion and the increasing number of 'gadgets' that has lead the profusion of cheap and in some cases very nasty 'power bars' into which we then plug, even more, higgledy-piggledy too many of the power supplies for the various gadgets..- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - None of the "wall warts, night lights, air fresheners, shaver and cell phone chargers" that I own have ground pins. But some may have polarized plugs, thus essentially being the same thing. nate |
3 prong outlet, which way is up?
john wrote:
Does the 2008 NEC specify which way to orient 3-prong outlets? Should it be ground on top http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...with_label.jpg or ground on bottom http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...4/23433400.jpg ? The tradition seems to be ground on bottom, but I heard it is safer to have ground on top so falling coins are less likely to short out a loosely plugged in plug. Get the recessed outlets, like they use for mounting clocks, then no matter what slides down the walls - from pennies to drunk relatives - there will be no hazard at all. |
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