Light swithes

[jtedesco1]

... and when the breaker is installed with the handle operating as a light switch, UP is on and down is off, since we don't do code I will not mention where this rule is in the CODE, what about a switch of this type where the red light will go on when the switch it pushed UP

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

Practical Safeguarding.






The purpose of the NEC is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

No one is disputing this.

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

Here's a member that was not happy with the answers he received elsewhere and decided to ask the electricians!

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=94243

What does this have to do with the question that you are skirting around?

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

Go to the big box store and read the instructions on the sides of various single pole switches,

Don't need to...have one in my hands. It states how to wire it, says nothing about which way the switch is to be mounted.

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

and then think about the time when you were in a strange place and found that the switch was about 6 feet away from the door and after entering discovered that the room was pitch black, and you tripped trying to find that lousy stinking single pole switch,

Again, what makes this an electrical hazard? Also, I would discover that the room is pitch black before entering it, and use caution when I could not reach the switch. And when I did find the switch, if the throw was in the up position, I would throw it anyway!!! I would not keep looking for another switch that had the toggle in the down position!!! Even a child knows to flip the switch, no matter what the position it is in.

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

the conventional wisdom in the USA is that the UP position is the ON position.

Again, assuming the switch is wired correctly, where is the electrical hazard?

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

An Indicating general-use and motor-circuit switches, circuit breakers, and molded case switches, where mounted in an enclosures, must clearly indicate whether they are in the open (off) or closed (on) position.

Using your example above...pitch black room...how is one to see the indicator in the dark?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by relliott

Hahaha
Let me throw this into the mix.
When you look at a breaker panel does the breaker flip on to the left or the right............hmmmm

Depends...

And in a fused panel... does the fuse thread in clockwise or counter-clockwise

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

what about a switch of this type where the red light will go on when the switch it pushed UP

Correction...the light goes on when it is energized...not pushed up. If the switch was mounted the other way...or even sideways...it would still turn on.

[jtedesco1]

I will repost this issue and I will add this to the electrical forum here asking the a similar question.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by btreacy

I recently inspected a home and the light switches were installed upside down, home handy man. I verbally mentioned this to the new buyer, should I include this in my report?

Bruce

Bruce,
In my honest opinion, you covered it. I deem this as a non-issue, as you mentioned it to your client. I suspect your client is thinking, "okay, no biggie". I doubt they will lose any sleep over it.

[jtedesco1]

Originally Posted by btreacy

I recently inspected a home and the light switches were installed upside down, home handy man. I verbally mentioned this to the new buyer, should I include this in my report?

Bruce

Since you are in Canada, I wondered why this question was not posted in that forum here.

If I was looking for an authoritative answer I would make contact with the ESA

If they say they don't care I will not ask for a refund, otherwise I would, and would be done with it:

It is a defect and should be so noted!

PS: What rules are followed for the HI community in you area?

[James H. Bushart]

This is another difference between home inspectors and code inspectors.

Will a code inspector...code book in one hand as he reviews a violation...take issue? Yes. Why not? It's his job. If the code says it, enforce it.

But will a home inspector complicate the process of selling/buying a home because a light switch is upside down? Will he actually recommend that his client require that a licensed electrician come to the home and turn all of the switches in the house around? No.

[jkogel]

Originally Posted by relliott

Hahaha
Let me throw this into the mix.
When you look at a breaker panel does the breaker flip on to the left or the right............hmmmm

I will say that a horizontally mounted Breaker switch MUST be mounted so that UP is On. That rule is for Electrical Safety, check it out.

I will also like to point out that the old pushbutton switches like the one pictured should be recommended for replacement - they tend to be faulty and can arc out in the wall.

You don't need to call for an electrician to flip the light switches around. You should call it out in your report as a minor issue that needs fixing.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by jkogel

I will also like to point out that the old pushbutton switches like the one pictured should be recommended for replacement - they tend to be faulty and can arc out in the wall.

In this case, these are only a few years old, with the original cover plates. (Never assume) I should know, they are in my home.
See here...

http://www.rejuvenation.com/typepage...rts_group.html

[jkogel]

You are so right, point taken. I thought i saw an old one, upside down and missing a screw.

[Richard A. Hetzel]

Gentlemen. Light switches are routinely installed "upside down" in other countries, because to them, upside-down is right-side-up, and for an excellent reason. In the event the spring that holds the toggle should fail, the switch would fail to the open position. If the switch is mounted "right-side-up", and the spring fails, the toggle would fail to the closed position and the fixture would be live. Perhaps American switches are better and seldom fail in that way, so we mount them upside-down...or was it right-side-up...oh, whatever.

[rwand1]

Do they reverse that down under in Australia?

[rwand1]

Do you report receptacles that are upside down? I don't. Is it a deal blower not likely.

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

Other than it's unusual, and implies Harry Homeowner has been at work, I don't see the harm. Once again, I'm not trying to argue, just trying to understand where the problem lies.

Thanks in advance. I really do appreciate your input.

Harry Homeowner has been at work and doing things in "unusual" ways.....
seems worth a mention.