Originally Posted by
CHARLIE VAN FLEET
MAY BE SAFER--BUT THEY ARE STILL SUPPOSE TO WIRE THEM CORRECTLY--BLACK WIRE TO BRASS WHITE TO SILVER AND IT WOULD HELP TO HAVE A GROUND----JUST THINK THEY DID EVERYTHING FROM THE BACK OF A WHEATIES BOX
CHARLIE,
DID YOU KNOW THAT TYPING WITH THE ALL CAPS KEY ON IS CONSIDERED YELLING?
IT IS MUCH BETTER TO POST AS YOU DID IN YOUR ORIGINAL POST ... with the all caps key OFF and just talk normally, using the all caps key for HIGHLIGHTING words if needed.
Nolan is correct, there is no right side up or upside down for receptacles.
There are two trains of thought on this, both have some validity, but, TO ME, the 'ground up' is less safe. NOT "upside down" mind you, just "less safe".
Here are the two trains of thought on why each is better then the other.
Ground up: IF something which is conductive falls between the plug and the receptacle, it will land on the ground prong and not cause a problem. (That is, until whatever it is slips to one side, in which case it may very well ground fault out ground and hot.
).
Ground up: IF (it happens all the time) the cord weight pulls the plug part way out of the receptacle, you lose the ground connection FIRST as the top prong(s) pull out before the bottom prong(s) do. To ME, this *is not a good thing*.
Ground down: IF something which is conductive falls between the plug and the receptacle, it will land on the hot and neutral shorting them out and make big sparking noises and shoot fire and brimstone out (to hear the 'ground up' guys say it) ... kind of like what would happen with the ground up and the whatever falls to the ground / hot side as described above
.
Ground down: IF (it happens all the time) the cord weight pulls the plug part way out of the receptacle, you lose the ground connection LAST as the top prong(s) pull out before the bottom prong(s) do. To ME, this *is a good thing*.
I.e, if something falls down between the plug and the receptacle, there is a really good chance of shorting out neutral / hot or grounding faulting out the ground / hot REGARDLESS of which way the plug is, sooooo ... very little is accomplished.
Whereas, if the ground prong is down, the likelihood of maintaining a ground and losing the 'hot' first is greatly improved. Ever notice the ground prong is LONGER? Yeah, that's so that the ground is connected FIRST and disconnected LAST, hence a good reason for "ground down".