Common practice when installing a grounded 110 volt recepticle for a wall outlet is to position the receptical vertically with the grounding prongs located below the L1 and N spade inserts. Is there a code that defines the installation of recepticles in this manner, or is it just common practice?
Recepticle Installation
- Thread starter wellis
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Re: Recepticle Installation
This is the most FAQ on this forum. It is a practice to "make a monkey face" with the receptacle.
I also traced the history of this procedure. I didn't have much to trace, I lived most of the history.
When the receptacles were two wire, no ground wire, it was a trade practice to place the neutral/white wire on the left side of the outlet box. This made setting finish easier and reduced mistakes.
When the three wire devices came on the scene, the ground hole was automatically on the bottom.
Actually, it makes no difference which position the ground is in, the cord will probably be two wire anyway.
In local 11, Los Angeles, there was a wireman who developed near blindness. He hired out to set finish on mass produced tract homes. I heard that he was in high demand and no one could keep up with him.
This is the most FAQ on this forum. It is a practice to "make a monkey face" with the receptacle.
I also traced the history of this procedure. I didn't have much to trace, I lived most of the history.
When the receptacles were two wire, no ground wire, it was a trade practice to place the neutral/white wire on the left side of the outlet box. This made setting finish easier and reduced mistakes.
When the three wire devices came on the scene, the ground hole was automatically on the bottom.
Actually, it makes no difference which position the ground is in, the cord will probably be two wire anyway.
In local 11, Los Angeles, there was a wireman who developed near blindness. He hired out to set finish on mass produced tract homes. I heard that he was in high demand and no one could keep up with him.
goldstar
Senior Member
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- New Jersey
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- Electrical Contractor
Re: Recepticle Installation
If you could research back through some of the archived posts in the old forum you'll probably find this topic discussed several times. There are no code requirements for which direction a receptacle is mounted. However, I remember reading some of those posts and some of the arguments for "ground up" were better than those for "ground down".
The ones that I can think of off hand are :
1) If a child is playing near a receptacle and decides to slide something (like a spatula) down behind a metal receptacle plate, if the ground is facing up chances are he/she will hit that before hitting the hot side of the receptacle.
2) If you have a plug-in transformer(s) (i.e. for a security system) and the metal cover plate becomes loose, if the ground side is up chances are it would hit the ground terminal before shorting across the hot/neutral terminals.
Although the probability of these scenarios happening are highly unlikely it seems better to err on the side of caution.
If you could research back through some of the archived posts in the old forum you'll probably find this topic discussed several times. There are no code requirements for which direction a receptacle is mounted. However, I remember reading some of those posts and some of the arguments for "ground up" were better than those for "ground down".
The ones that I can think of off hand are :
1) If a child is playing near a receptacle and decides to slide something (like a spatula) down behind a metal receptacle plate, if the ground is facing up chances are he/she will hit that before hitting the hot side of the receptacle.
2) If you have a plug-in transformer(s) (i.e. for a security system) and the metal cover plate becomes loose, if the ground side is up chances are it would hit the ground terminal before shorting across the hot/neutral terminals.
Although the probability of these scenarios happening are highly unlikely it seems better to err on the side of caution.
bphgravity
Senior Member
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- Florida
Re: Recepticle Installation
I think manufacturers should begin making duplex reptacles with one half ground pin down, and the other half ground pin up. This way, no varying orientation is questionable!
I think manufacturers should begin making duplex reptacles with one half ground pin down, and the other half ground pin up. This way, no varying orientation is questionable!
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- Bremerton, Washington
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- Master Electrician
Re: Recepticle Installation
I have noted that most of the devices designed to be plugged in and left in place are such that the ground has to be down or it will be upside down. These are not grounded devices, but polarized devices. I have several in my home, timers, flashlights, remote control devices. I'm wondering if this is a UL standard...
Also most appilances with 3 wire right angle cord caps are designed with the ground on the bottom.
I have noted that most of the devices designed to be plugged in and left in place are such that the ground has to be down or it will be upside down. These are not grounded devices, but polarized devices. I have several in my home, timers, flashlights, remote control devices. I'm wondering if this is a UL standard...
Also most appilances with 3 wire right angle cord caps are designed with the ground on the bottom.
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