Outlets upside down in a 1969 build

[Richard W. Washington]

Why would the outlets in all the bedrooms be upside down? My tester showed they were wired properly but I recall reading somewhere that this is not correct.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by rwashington

Why would the outlets in all the bedrooms be upside down? My tester showed they were wired properly but I recall reading somewhere that this is not correct.

Define "upside-down"....picture? If you mean the "ground hole" is "up"...this would actually be the preferred install.

[Michael W. Gault]

Common in commercial apps (Safer in the belief that the 'grounded conductor' is the one exposed if a plug ever starts to 'back out' and something falls on it, it'll hit the grounded conductor, not a hot or neutral leg)...

Bet the guy who wired it up had a commercial electric background...

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by rwashington

Why would the outlets in all the bedrooms be upside down? My tester showed they were wired properly but I recall reading somewhere that this is not correct.

What makes you think there's even a "right side up"?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Sideways works too.

[pdickerson]

Some people install them this way to indicate that they are switched.

[Jim Port]

Someone please call PETA, they are beating dead horses here too.

This topic must be the groundhog day of electrical topics.

[W. Michael Chris]

Jim, that's one way to learn on the board . . . so many times the 'search' just doesn't find what you're looking for . . . so you POST a question . . . it gets answered . . . even if it's been asked a 100 times . . . that's what so great about this board, so many are willing to help even if it's been asked before, sure, some come back in and might complain a little . . . but questions get answered and we continue to learn . . . Richard, I think you got your question answer . . . this board is great!

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Someone please call PETA, they are beating dead horses here too.

This topic must be the groundhog day of electrical topics.

And your point is?

[Greg Fretwell]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

And your point is?

I think the point is you guys and gals need a FAQ page.

[David P. Valley]

Unless its written in the manufacturer's installation instructions or written on the outlet (some actually have "top" written on them), you are permitted to install the device in any direction you prefer.

The Electrical Code doesn't require a specific orientation of a duplex outlet. Most often the ground is at the bottom, but the outlet can be mounted horizontally as well as vertically.

Many prefer that the ground be located at the bottom; if the plug works loose, the ground remains in contact longest. If mounted horizontally, most prefer to have the neutral (wide blade) side up so any foreign object that falls onto a partly exposed blade would contact either the neugral or the ground.

GFCIs often have the test/reset indicators labeled so they can be read whether the ground is up or down. In other words, it's the dealer's choice.

In the IEEE standard 602-1996, section 4.2.2... advises that hospital-grade outlets be used and that they should be mounted with the ground pin or neutral blade up to assure that any metal that may drop between the plug and the wall will most likely contact an unenergized blade.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by mgault

Common in commercial apps (Safer in the belief that the 'grounded conductor' is the one exposed if a plug ever starts to 'back out' and something falls on it, it'll hit the grounded conductor, not a hot or neutral leg)...

Quick point of technical clarification. The large round pin is connected to the "grounding" conductor. The grounded conductor is the "neutral".


**Edit to add the bold. Text not changed.**

[Speedy Petey]

Oh, and there is NO such thing as an "upside down" receptacle (unless the mfg says so).

[Paul W. Abernathy]

funny enough....when I install switched receptacle in a bedroom let say...I always turn it with the ground prong up....and the rest down.

Just helps the client know which is switched when planning their furniture layout......Well i should not say always....sometimes I forget to do it..lol

[Richard W. Washington]

Originally Posted by wchris1

Jim, that's one way to learn on the board . . . so many times the 'search' just doesn't find what you're looking for . . . so you POST a question . . . it gets answered . . . even if it's been asked a 100 times . . . that's what so great about this board, so many are willing to help even if it's been asked before, sure, some come back in and might complain a little . . . but questions get answered and we continue to learn . . . Richard, I think you got your question answer . . . this board is great!

Thanks Mike.
Agreed. If you are going to badger the people asking questions then please don't post?
Yes, I did get my question answered very well.