*
What’s the skinny with receptacles needing to be installed upside down (ground up)? I heard hospitals in Colorado, Montana, etc. are actually required by code to do this. I’m curious why! What’s the reason? There has to be REASON! Should I start doing this in wet locations? Is this a fad? Should I do it to floor receptacles? Ceiling receptacles? <8-}
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The end of this program will likely lead to higher energy bills and fewer business opportunities for the American people.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
*
Johnny, I think the reason is that the ground is supposed to prevent an object from shorting out against the two hot prongs. Down near the floor, it's more likely that something will fall onto the prongs than rise up against them, so the ground is on top. Above counter height, more likely you'll be safer with the ground down.
If you put the ceiling and floor receptacles upside down I don't know that you'll get the same safety effect....
*Its so if something conductive slides down the wall, (like a metal receptacle plate), it'll hit the ground first. Last i heard it was recommended by NEC, but not required. I tried putting in a few that way then changed em all back.
*Another reason for ground up might be that right angle plugs are made so that the cord points down when the ground pin is up.-- J.S.
*most hospital specs require specialized wiring.. the receptacles are not the same ones we use in residential work...are you talking about common 15 amp residential outlets ?
*It is not an adopted code (yet) in MN. I'm going to read more about it though. Now I have a good explanation to give, so thanks much. Seems to me its a very good idea for workshops and such, considering how many times a plug gets partially pulled out.Yes, and no, about the 15 ampers, I wanted to know the reason, and the environment behind this practice. I'll probably use a case by case basis to practice this. I think I might meet in the middle with my floor and ceiling receptacles @ 90 degrees! ?:^/
*Just looked at a job where this exact thing would have prevented a short. The lady put a brass plate on without attaching it with a screw. Of course it fell down to the prongs of the partially plugged in plug. A short ensued and popped the breaker. If it had been turned over the ground woulda been the only prong that it hit.
*Taunton's book on wiring gets into this (objects falling across the hot and neutral) and he says he installs all of his upside down (ground up).I'm sure it happens occasionally, but rarely it would seem. Hospitals have the added risk of oxygen use in rooms so big hot sparks are not good. I didn't do it that way when wiring my own house last year. Now if I had a bunch of Australian appliances . . . -David
*Our local inspectors are insisting on gound pin up. Not based on any requirement, just their preference.I have seen a few cases in homes where something metallic has fallen (or was intentionally dropped) between the wall plate and plug body (all in kids rooms). A bobby pin, a sewing needle or pin, who knows what. It appeared that the thing chattered and arced for a while before the breaker opened, based on the amount of soot on the wall.In one case, the metal object melted halfway through the blades of the plug. With the dust and lint below the plug, it's amazing that there wasn't a fire. So I can't argue with the point that ground pin on top os better. Except for right angle plugs, like behind a refigerator.Cliff
*Now, in the case of 15 and 20 amp 120 volt recepticals mounted horizontally, you want the ground hole on the left. This would cause the neutral to be on top. Any metal objects falling behind would make contact with the ground and neutral and not be a hazard. I always follow this rule when installing horizontally. On verticals I install ground up depending on the environment or application. For example: behind refrigerators, sump pumps, utility rooms, garages, unfinished basements, etc.
*FWIW, Friday during a home inspection I saw a 220 dryer plug only partially inserted the outlet with arc marks on the rubber portion of the plug.Thanks to this thread I was able to suggest a possible resaon for the arc mark: something metal falling onto the prongs.There happened to be an electrician there and he agreed.
*Good friend had this happen. TV rabbit ears fell off top of entertainment center and landed across the plug. TV was never the same (lost the sound).
*Gentlemen. None of you mentioned the fact that the National Electric Code (NEC) code is silent on this subject. The box can be mounted verticlly, horizontally, or upside down or right side up. The final say is had by the local official. GeneL.
*There is a code requirement for the ground to be on top in hospitals. This is not a listing that referes to any other buildings and so in the purest sense it should not be required by the inspectors. At the same time the NEC defers to the authority having jurisdiction. In other words the inspector can insist on the ground being on top but cannot cite the NEC for reference.There are several sound reasons for the ground to be on top and it is only tradition and asthetic preferences for the anthropromorphic look of the "face" in the receptacle that keep us, myself included, installing receptacles with the ground on the bottom. An interesting note is that most recerticale have the manufacturers logo stamped on so that they are read with the ground being up.
*This one has come up before. If you want more debate/opinions on the matter, here is an excellent link: http://www.mikeholt.com/Newsletters/9-23-99.htmHope this helps. Rich.
*
What's the skinny with receptacles needing to be installed upside down (ground up)? I heard hospitals in Colorado, Montana, etc. are actually required by code to do this. I'm curious why! What's the reason? There has to be REASON! Should I start doing this in wet locations? Is this a fad? Should I do it to floor receptacles? Ceiling receptacles? <8-}