Upside Down Receptacle ?

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jerryb52

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Lake Worth, Florida
I was told by an apprentice that in the new 2005 code, it states that a duplex receptacle shall be installed with the ground in the up position.

Is this true?

I've almost always mounted the receptacles with the ground down... I know it never stated this in any previous code books.

Thanks
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

There are a lot of previous posts on this same topic, you can search for them. Up down sideways it does not matter per the NEC.
But most plug in type devices-flashlihgts, timers, radios, have the ground down, this may be a UL standard, I don't know.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

I have seen right angle plugs with both. And for a while laundry equipment was like that, the washer would be one way and the dryer would be the other, now just the washer has the ground down the dryer is stright. refrigerators and freezers are like that. one down and one up.
But this is so both can be pluged into the same duplex receptacle.

Never had a radio like that thou?
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

If there were a set way the device below would be illegal.

4-plex-receptacles.jpg


Roger
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

The following is from Pass and Seymour's FAQs.
Q: Should receptacles be mounted with the ground pin up or the ground pin down?


A: This is one of the most common questions the technical group is asked. There is no code or any other requirement that mandates the orientation of a receptacle in regard to ground pin up or ground pin down. It is a recommendation to install it with the ground pin up. The reason for this is if a metal object, such as a tape measure or kitchen utensil, should fall and strike a grounded plug the ground pin is the first to come in contact with the object. If the ground pin is installed down the first blades the object would strike would be the hot and the neutral. Preference of the ground pin orientation seems to be in many areas, a cosmetic decision. The GFCI receptacle is manufactured with reversible markings on the test and reset buttons to allow installation for either preference.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

I recently saw some new housing that had both ground pin up and down. Turns out that roughly half of the receptacles in the bedrooms and living room were connected to wall switches for the purpose of plugging in lamps and the other half were general purpose. I think it is required to have the outlets connected to wall switches if there are no permanent light fixtures installed in the rooms already controlled by switch.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

Since the 2005 code book is out now, I suggest asking the apprentice for a code reference whenever he makes claims that sound fishy. It'll be good practice for him for his journeyman exam, and it'll teach him not to make assertions about the code unless he knows they are true.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

There is a tract home wiring contractor around here that places the ground up on all switch-controlled receptacles and ground down for all others.
I like them all down.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

There is a tract home wiring contractor around here that places the ground up on all switch-controlled receptacles and ground down for all others.
Click to expand...
This seems to be SOP for tract home electricians nationwide. My friend's tract home in southern California is the same way (as well as the other 2000+ homes in the develoment presumably.)

Personally, I like the idea because you can tell at a glance which receptacle is switch controlled.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

If a receptacle says "top", must it be installed that way? Listing, labeling, UL, manufacturers instructions.................etc.

Brent
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

Originally posted by peter d:

Personally, I like the idea because you can tell at a glance which receptacle is switch controlled.
Click to expand...
But does he switch the top outlet or the bottom outlet?
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

Originally posted by brentp:
If a receptacle says "top", must it be installed that way? Listing, labeling, UL, manufacturers instructions.................etc.

Brent
Click to expand...
Listing and labeling are one thing, manufacturer's instructions are something else entirely. See 110.3(B) and notice that it refers to the listing and labeling...not the instructions. I doubt the orientation of the device is a listing issue.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

But does he switch the top outlet or the bottom outlet?
Click to expand...
Ahhhh.....good question. You got me. I'm pretty sure the top half is switch controlled. Any tract electricians out there? What say you?
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

Here in the Chicago area the standard for mounting recepticles is left to right. That is because we still use 4" square metal boxes with drywall rings. Been that way forever and probably will stay.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

Originally posted by scott moran:
Here in the Chicago area the standard for mounting recepticles is left to right. That is because we still use 4" square metal boxes with drywall rings.
Click to expand...
I use 4" sqs and rings too, but what does that have to do with the outlet being vertical or horizontal? :confused:
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

If I were to design my own home, and if the question came up as to switching the top or bottom half of a duplex receptacle, I would opt for the bottom half. My reason is that the one I switch will serve the floor lamp or table lamp, and it will be always plugged in. I prefer not to reach under one plug, when I try to insert the second plug.
 
Re: Upside Down Receptacle ?

I solved the problem.

They should design a receptacle with the ground on top and the ground on the bottom. (opposing). That way there is no upside down. Plus you can plug 2 L.V. xfmr's in a single outlet with out them hitting each other. I'll take 10% royalty's please.

:D
 
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