the old ground up or smiley face discussion

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junkhound

junkhound

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Renton, WA
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EE, power electronics specialty
Common reason for ground pinup is to avoid possible short from falling debris.

Last week was routing out some fins off a heat sink for custom power supply job. Plugged into horizontal plug mold outlet strip.

Safety glassed, etc, little aluminum chips flying about.

About finished, and 'FLASH/SNap". One chip managed to find the way into the tiny gap between plug and outlet.
Ground pin on plugmold to the right

So, add to that old discussion, always install horizontal 120V outlets with ground lug to the LEFT. :rolleyes:
 
I always install horizontal receptacles neutral side up. Supposedly if a paper clip or something like you just had happen falls between the plug and receptacle, less chance of boom. Same way with ground up, 50% chance of short vs 100% chance.
 
Sadly the new Leviton 5325 receptacles have a "Leviton" label on them that would be upside down if you mounted them hot down. I'll have to change my ways.

Furthermore, it's raised lettering so it's only going to get filled with dirt and oils overtime.
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Rob
 
marmathsen said:
Sadly the new Leviton 5325 receptacles have a "Leviton" label on them that would be upside down if you mounted them hot down. I'll have to change my ways.

Furthermore, it's raised lettering so it's only going to get filled with dirt and oils overtime.
f4d27c5e3f4283cef53965b7908e3e1d.jpg


Rob
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Most Legrand decorator devices and Lutron dimmers do that also, I guess those both are recessed instead of raised lettering, but still catch dirt/oils. Kind of don't like this but can't do much about it either.
 
junkhound said:
So, add to that old discussion, always install horizontal 120V outlets with ground lug to the LEFT. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
hillbilly1 said:
I always install horizontal receptacles neutral side up. Supposedly if a paper clip or something like you just had happen falls between the plug and receptacle, less chance of boom. Same way with ground up, 50% chance of short vs 100% chance.
Click to expand...

I don't understand.

1595787198802.png

;)

Roger
 
Look at a residential refrigerator cord. Notice which side of the cord cap the wire comes out of. It is designed to hang to the floor from what would be the bottom of the plug. The ground is on the bottom. If you were to install the receptacle with ground up, it would 1. force the fridge out another inch and 2. put unnecessary strain on the cord next to the plug.

Ok...you can close the thread now. ;)
 
hillbilly1 said:
Look at a 30 amp rv plug, the grounds on top, if you put the ground down, the heavy cord would keep coming loose! LOL!
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Yeah, but that's a different type of plug.

Dryer plug/receptacle ground is at top so when you pipe down a basement wall into a surface mount receptacle the cord can hang freely towards the floor.
 
jaylectricity said:
Look at a residential refrigerator cord. Notice which side of the cord cap the wire comes out of. It is designed to hang to the floor from what would be the bottom of the plug. The ground is on the bottom. If you were to install the receptacle with ground up, it would 1. force the fridge out another inch and 2. put unnecessary strain on the cord next to the plug.

Ok...you can close the thread now. ;)
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Well, my recessed microwave has a plug that sticks straight out. I guess I'll have to mount the box so the receptacle faces the wall and punch a hole in the wall so I can reach through and plug in the microwave.
 
Most all 15/20 amp appliance 90 degree cord caps are ground down. I'm looking at my dehumidifier as we speak. so.........................30 amps are ground up. go figure.
 
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