Here's a quicky...

[Dave M.]

What is the official orientation of the grounded outlet? Ground receptacle
up or down? I ask this, because right angle air conditioning cords ground
pins can be either way.

Dave M.

 

[Miles]

What is the official orientation of the grounded outlet? Ground receptacle
up or down? I ask this, because right angle air conditioning cords ground
pins can be either way.

Dave M.

Depends on the regulations in force where you live.

In parts of Europe it's UP
In New Zealand and Australia, it's DOWN.
In Canada and USA, I have no idea. Have a look at your NEC.

 

[daestrom]

What is the official orientation of the grounded outlet? Ground receptacle
up or down? I ask this, because right angle air conditioning cords ground
pins can be either way.

I've seen this argued several ways. Everything from the plug 'hanging down'
as it falls out of the outlet so the ground pin should be on the bottom to
be the last contact broken; to the pin should be on top so any metal object
falling down along the wall will contact the pin on top and not short
hot-neutral (like we have falling metal along the wall every day ;-)

But in my opinion, the ground pin down. And here is *my* take on it. Many
cords for refrigerators, and washing machines and the like, are 'flat' with
the cord coming out from the 'side' of the plug. The side with the ground
pin. So if you install the outlet with the ground pin down, the cord hangs
down from the plug in a nice, clean manner. If you install with the pin up,
the cord comes up out of the plug and makes a sharp 180 bend to hang down.
Just 'feels' like too much stress on the cord in such a tight bend.
(especially since these are higher than average current loads).

Why don't some plugs come with the cord extending out the side opposite the
ground pin? Maybe there's a standard for *that*?? If so, then orientation
of the 'socket' should match (IMHO).

But this is just one man's opinion.

daestrom

 

[Dave M.]

There is no standard. I have seen compelling arguments for both ways, or even

There is no standard.

That's the answer I gave a friend. Hoping I was right.

 

[Dave M.]

I've seen this argued several ways. Everything from the plug 'hanging down'
as it falls out of the outlet so the ground pin should be on the bottom to
be the last contact broken; to the pin should be on top so any metal object
falling down along the wall will contact the pin on top and not short
hot-neutral (like we have falling metal along the wall every day ;-)

But in my opinion, the ground pin down. And here is *my* take on it. Many
cords for refrigerators, and washing machines and the like, are 'flat' with
the cord coming out from the 'side' of the plug. The side with the ground
pin. So if you install the outlet with the ground pin down, the cord hangs
down from the plug in a nice, clean manner. If you install with the pin up,
the cord comes up out of the plug and makes a sharp 180 bend to hang down.

.... and I've seen flat plug air conditioner extension cords each of which
had ground pin orientations opposite that of the other make. So, deductive
reasoning would tell me, there is probably not a standard. But I just
thought I'd ask!

Dave M.

 

[Dave M.]

Depends on the regulations in force where you live.

In parts of Europe it's UP
In New Zealand and Australia, it's DOWN.

I wonder if that's because Europe is north of the equator and Austrailia is
south of the equator? ;-D

 

[[email protected]]

What is the official orientation of the grounded outlet? Ground receptacle
up or down? I ask this, because right angle air conditioning cords ground
pins can be either way.

Dave M.

Here's the answers:

--------- ---------
| 0 | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 0 |
| | | |
| . | | . |
| | | |
| | | | | 0 |
| | | |
| 0 | | | | |
--------- ---------

You can use either of the above receptacles to avoid that
question. :=)

 

[Nukie Poo]

Here's the answers:

--------- ---------
| 0 | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | 0 |
| | | |
| . | | . |
| | | |
| | | | | 0 |
| | | |
| 0 | | | | |
--------- ---------

You can use either of the above receptacles to avoid that
question. :=)

Jeez, Tom. Now don't be giving the AHJ in my area any ideas! ;-)

 

[Ben Miller]

What is the official orientation of the grounded outlet? Ground receptacle
up or down? I ask this, because right angle air conditioning cords ground
pins can be either way.

Dave M.

There is no official standard. There is, however, a school of thought that
says the ground pin (for vertical orientation) or the wide blade (for
horizontal orientation) should be up. The theory is that if a loose metal
cover plate drops down against exposed pins, it will contact the grounded or
grounding conductor rather than a hot one. Some cordsets and plug-in devices
don't allow for this, however.

Ben Miller

 

[[email protected]]

^^^
This one will allow two wall warts on one duplex receptacle. Most
polarized units (that I've seen in the USA) have the neutral to the left
(which corresponds to ground down).

2 wall warts in either one Wall warts don't have ground
pins.

 

[daestrom]

There is no official standard. There is, however, a school of thought that
says the ground pin (for vertical orientation) or the wide blade (for
horizontal orientation) should be up. The theory is that if a loose metal
cover plate drops down against exposed pins, it will contact the grounded or
grounding conductor rather than a hot one. Some cordsets and plug-in devices
don't allow for this, however.

This always gets to me. Like homes have falling metal plates everywhere.
When's the last time you had a falling metal plate anywhere? Unless one is
trying to remove the cover plate (in which case, the cords would be
unplugged first). I think this 'theory' is about as sound as the 'put
ground pin on bottom so it breaks contact last when you step on the plug
forcing it out of the wall' theory. (like people go around and try and use
plugs as step-stools and wrench plugs out of walls with their feet). Either
one is pretty far-fetched.

If the maintanence is so shoddy that cover plates are falling off outlet
boxes, then orientation of plugs is the least of your troubles.

I simply prefer whatever orientation puts the least stress on cords. If
there is no preferred, then it doesn't matter. But some cord/plugs do have
an obvious preferential orientation.

daestrom

 

[[email protected]]

Unless they're polarized wall warts.

I'll believe that when I see one.

 

[Don Kelly]

I'd agree, GPD seems to be the fav for residential wiring. I
prefer that all outlets in a house be wired the same, since it
makes crawling around in the dark looking for a plug-outlet mate
somewhat less iffy.

Then again, sometimes in the dark... ...well, I still want to
know if they're bottoms up or down! ;-)

 

[Brian]

Ask the architect, electrical engineer or Harry the home owner.

 

[daestrom]

[snip]

This always gets to me. Like homes have falling metal plates everywhere.
When's the last time you had a falling metal plate anywhere?

Off the back of my workbench or desk? Lots of times.

A friend of mine (a carpenter) witnessed a co-worker extend a measuring
tape along a wall and manage to let it slip down onto a plug.

Sounds like you and your friend need to be more careful. Stuff falling
everywhere is more a hazard than the ground pin issue ;-) Surely your
friend knew that measuring taps 'collapse' frequently and don't always 'go'
where you want them to.

But obviously, 'stepping on plugs' causing them to pull from the wall is
just not being very careful. Nor is dangling metal tape over the top of
some power plugs. Probably for every account that people can relate an
incident for GPU, an equal number can relay an incident where GPD saved them
instead.

If safety were a big issue with this, we might require recessed, locking
plugs that can't be removed without turning off the power via an integral
switch. (oops, don't want to give anyone ideas ;-)

A nearby hospital has every plug (that I saw) installed with ground pin
up.
As you state below, the standard for right angle plugs seems to be
ground pin down. With this in mind, the hospital must have had a very
good reason for flipping all the receptacles over.

Or the master electrician in charge of that job subscribes to the same
'wives tale' because "that's the way I learnt it!!"

I simply think it [the idea that orientation saves us from falling wall
plates] is a poor attempt to rationalize an old myth. Like so many other
'urban myths'. If there was *really* something to it, by now, it would be
in a standard or code *somewhere*. Anyone ever run across a lawsuit based
on this issue?? If not, considering our litigious society, it must truly
*not matter*.

daestrom

 

[Don Kelly]

[snip]

This always gets to me. Like homes have falling metal plates everywhere.
When's the last time you had a falling metal plate anywhere?

Off the back of my workbench or desk? Lots of times.

A friend of mine (a carpenter) witnessed a co-worker extend a measuring
tape along a wall and manage to let it slip down onto a plug.

Sounds like you and your friend need to be more careful. Stuff falling
everywhere is more a hazard than the ground pin issue ;-) Surely your
friend knew that measuring taps 'collapse' frequently and don't always 'go'
where you want them to.

But obviously, 'stepping on plugs' causing them to pull from the wall is
just not being very careful. Nor is dangling metal tape over the top of
some power plugs. Probably for every account that people can relate an
incident for GPU, an equal number can relay an incident where GPD saved them
instead.

If safety were a big issue with this, we might require recessed, locking
plugs that can't be removed without turning off the power via an integral
switch. (oops, don't want to give anyone ideas ;-)

A nearby hospital has every plug (that I saw) installed with ground pin
up.
As you state below, the standard for right angle plugs seems to be
ground pin down. With this in mind, the hospital must have had a very
good reason for flipping all the receptacles over.

Or the master electrician in charge of that job subscribes to the same
'wives tale' because "that's the way I learnt it!!"

I simply think it [the idea that orientation saves us from falling wall
plates] is a poor attempt to rationalize an old myth. Like so many other
'urban myths'. If there was *really* something to it, by now, it would be
in a standard or code *somewhere*. Anyone ever run across a lawsuit based
on this issue?? If not, considering our litigious society, it must truly
*not matter*.

 

[Bob Peterson]

I simply think it [the idea that orientation saves us from falling wall
plates] is a poor attempt to rationalize an old myth. Like so many other
'urban myths'. If there was *really* something to it, by now, it would be
in a standard or code *somewhere*. Anyone ever run across a lawsuit based
on this issue?? If not, considering our litigious society, it must truly
*not matter*.

I have seen a number of industrial electircal specs that call out this
orientation. And take a look at outlets. The lettering molded into the
plastic is right side up if the ground pin is up.

 

[[email protected]]

[snip]

Good point! I don't have any polarized wall warts, but do have an
old one with three prongs. It says "Microcom" on it and is made
to hang naturally with the ground pin down.

I just took a survey of my office. 3 polarized, 3 not and one three
prong.

Very interesting! I've never seen a polarized wall wart - but
I did find a wall wart with a ground prong in a catalog today.
That one had screw terminals for the output.

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

[snip]

Good point! I don't have any polarized wall warts, but do have an
old one with three prongs. It says "Microcom" on it and is made
to hang naturally with the ground pin down.

I just took a survey of my office. 3 polarized, 3 not and one three
prong.

Very interesting! I've never seen a polarized wall wart - but
I did find a wall wart with a ground prong in a catalog today.
That one had screw terminals for the output.

I'm sure I've never seen a "wall wart" ever. Could someone please explain
what a wall wart is for someone outside the US of A??

...thinking some kind of mechatronic growth from rising damp.. with pins and
terminals. ;-)

Cameron

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

They are talking about a "plug in the wall" transformer like you would find on
a modem or something. The transformer is the plug.

Uh-huh.. A plug-pack. Thanks.

Cameron