Thread: Upside down receptacles

I did an inspection on a new house yesterday and all of the receptacles in the house were upside down. I turned to the superintendent who was present and asked why. His answer was that the electrician said it was the new code. I cannot find anything that points to that.

Any help would be appreciated since the customer is now complaining that they can only use one of the two plugs in the receptacle when the cord end is flat.


Jim

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upside down outlets usually means controlled by room switch--there is no code that I know on this--and there should only be two in each room

chas

No code requirement that I'm aware of... Think it is optional.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not aware of a code change either - and 'ground up' defeats the ground purpose as 'ground up' could cause loss of the ground before loss of power ... even with the ground prong being longer than the others.

The ground needs to 'make first' and 'break last'.

jerry confused by your post--in many new homes{and older} the electrician will simply wire an outlet to room switch and turn outlet upside down so ground lug is on top--to identify it-I usually put a small green dot on this outlet and inform buyer-good inspect tip I think--9 out of ten home owners don't know this--and that amazes me how uneducated they are--but I guess that is our job inspectors

Originally Posted by CHARLIE VAN FLEET

jerry confused by your post--in many new homes{and older} the electrician will simply wire an outlet to room switch and turn outlet upside down so ground lug is on top--to identify it-I usually put a small green dot on this outlet and inform buyer-good inspect tip I think--9 out of ten home owners don't know this--and that amazes me how uneducated they are--but I guess that is our job inspectors

Charlie,

Yes, turning a receptacle 'ground up' is a wide spread practice to indicate the switched receptacle outlet for lighting, and there is no code 'rightside up' or 'upside down' - however, look at every grounded plug and you will find that the ground prong is longer than the other prongs. That is to help ensure that the ground makes contact first and breaks contact last.

Turn a receptacle ground up and you create a condition which can defeat the reason the ground prong is longer.

Remember ... code is minimum, not good, better or best.

Receptacle direction is personal preference. Tell the customer to reverse the receptacle.

I has heard that this was done so that if a metal cover plate falls off it does not short across the hot and neutral. I also think it seemed to be common in some areas in the past.

These GFCI instructions show the ground up. I don't know if the Line and Load printing on the rear is really oriented that way.

GFCI.jpg

I did an inspection a while back and the client worked for one of the largest US electrical contractors that did a lot of hospitals. He told me that they put the ground on top in hospitals so that if the plug was out from the wall a little and something fell down on it, it would hit the ground prong and not create a short across the two prongs. I have never confirmed this and have not personally seen this. What do you think??

Originally Posted by CHARLIE VAN FLEET

upside down outlets usually means controlled by room switch--there is no code that I know on this--and there should only be two in each room

chas

Why should there only be two switched receptacles in a room? This is certainly not a code requirement, unless local.

tom & jim

I believe the outlets are ground lug up to show they are controlled by room switch--jim I have not seen more then two in any of my inspections--so just saying-there is no code as I can find

chas

Originally Posted by Tom Rees

I did an inspection a while back and the client worked for one of the largest US electrical contractors that did a lot of hospitals. He told me that they put the ground on top in hospitals so that if the plug was out from the wall a little and something fell down on it, it would hit the ground prong and not create a short across the two prongs. I have never confirmed this and have not personally seen this. What do you think??

Yes, that is the norm for hospitals. They don't want sparks flying when oxygen is in use!

I just looked around a bit. Hubbell shows all of their receptacles with the ground up, and the printing on the metal yoke reads correctly that way. Legrand also. Eaton and Leviton show them that way also. However, at least one Leviton shown that way the printing was upside down.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

I just looked around a bit. Hubbell shows all of their receptacles with the ground up, and the printing on the metal yoke reads correctly that way. Legrand also. Eaton and Leviton show them that way also. However, at least one Leviton shown that way the printing was upside down.

Worst is finding 1/2 "up" & the other half down (as if they didn't know which way was up...

Outlet/receptacle orientation.
I have heard were/where inspectors write up receptacles, in residential settings, if/when an outlet ground slot is not oriented up.
Once on my friend's country home for sale.
He asked me why.

My reply, "Not code, but there is the logic."

When I have clients in tow I can be chatty at times.
Poor souls, but we all laugh and have a great day.
Even REA's/brokers in my neck of the woods, that are professionals....

I typically, usually start with, "Think of Sir Isaac Newton's 3 Laws."
Let's start with...(Universal Gravitation)

In this case, outlet orientation, when the grounding slot is oriented above the hot and neutral, facing up, atop, with the ground slot above the neutral and hot slots, the plugs male blade inhibits contact between the hot and neutral under universal gravitation.

Logical in most cases. Still allows ground to neutral, ground to hot contact under certain situations.

Grandpa the carpenter, put a penny in a burnt out fuse and everyone survived at my and gramps house...

Thanks to all for the responses. I thought it was a lively discussion. I was sure it was not a code requirement but wanted to be certain since some things change rapidly. Most good electricians have the ground down and turn it up to indicate it is on a switch. This electrician hid behind a lie that it was code to shut ever one up. However, it is his preference to have them up. Only the customer paying the bill doesn't like it and he will not change them since he said it was code.


Jim

Originally Posted by JIM MURPHY

I did an inspection on a new house yesterday and all of the receptacles in the house were upside down. I turned to the superintendent who was present and asked why. His answer was that the electrician said it was the new code. I cannot find anything that points to that.

Any help would be appreciated since the customer is now complaining that they can only use one of the two plugs in the receptacle when the cord end is flat.


Jim

Hi Jim,
Upside down receptacles...that is a misnomer according to the NEC no matter what code cycle unless it is a local code enforced amendment. Defining upside down would be receptacles that have the equipment grounding prong located at 12 o'clock on convenience outlet receptacles in dwellings. In some medical facilities this is a requirement.

Originally Posted by Glenn Duxbury

Worst is finding 1/2 "up" & the other half down (as if they didn't know which way was up...

I can understand how this could be discomfiting. However, I recently did so for my kitchen counter, to differentiate between the receptacles on the first and the second required countertop circuit. The reason for this is that if two very heavy loads are to be plugged in on the counter, they can be attached to receptacles on separate circuits.

You've read the ample reasons for pointing the ground up, from our other colleagues. These apply particularly to receptacles at the common 14-18 inch height off the floor, where items other than metal cover plates are more likely to slide down toward them. (Receptacles up on the wall or over a counter are less at risk of this.) I know at least one good reason for pointing it down: low-voltage adapters that hug the wall are designed to plug in to receptacles oriented that way.

Originally Posted by david shapiro

You've read the ample reasons for pointing the ground up, from our other colleagues. These apply particularly to receptacles at the common 14-18 inch height off the floor, where items other than metal cover plates are more likely to slide down toward them.

The problem with that thinking is that something falling down and landing on the grounding prong will very unlikely land on the grounding prong perfectly balanced and remain balanced on the grounding prong.

Instead, that item will most likely fall to one side ... with a 50-50 chance of falling over to make contact with the grounding prong and the hot prong ... leading to all that sparking.

A metal cover plate has a better chance of landing on the ground prong and remaining hanging there ... of course, the slightest bump or touch and the metal plate swings to one side and ... yep, touches the hot prong while handing on the ground prong.

People need to think things out as to what might likely happen after the first 'gravity pulls it down' thought ... such as 'gravity pulls it down and the heavier side is pulled down even more by gravity ... which leads to all those sparks.

Originally Posted by Glenn Duxbury

Worst is finding 1/2 "up" & the other half down (as if they didn't know which way was up...

Is this the proper use of "worst"?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

The problem with that thinking is that something falling down and landing on the grounding prong will very unlikely land on the grounding prong perfectly balanced and remain balanced on the grounding prong.

Instead, that item will most likely fall to one side ... with a 50-50 chance of falling over to make contact with the grounding prong and the hot prong ... leading to all that sparking.

A metal cover plate has a better chance of landing on the ground prong and remaining hanging there ... of course, the slightest bump or touch and the metal plate swings to one side and ... yep, touches the hot prong while handing on the ground prong.

People need to think things out as to what might likely happen after the first 'gravity pulls it down' thought ... such as 'gravity pulls it down and the heavier side is pulled down even more by gravity ... which leads to all those sparks.

So Jerry, what you are saying is that they such not be installed up! Correct?

Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Why should there only be two switched receptacles in a room? This is certainly not a code requirement, unless local.

Unless grandfathered from wa-ay back, it would be an unusual room (try 6 ft square with no closet) for this to be legal in a residence under any electrical code adopted for =many decades.

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Why should there only be two switched receptacles in a room? This is certainly not a code requirement, unless local.

Originally Posted by david shapiro

Unless grandfathered from wa-ay back, it would be an unusual room (try 6 ft square with no closet) for this to be legal in a residence under any electrical code adopted for =many decades.

David,

I think you misread Jim's post ... he said (underlining is mine) "two switched receptacles".

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Is this the proper use of "worst"?

Worser??

David, it sounded like someone was saying there could only be 2 switched receptacles in the room, not just 2 receptacles. If the room had 6 only 2 could be switched. The balance needed to be constant hots.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

The problem with that thinking is that something falling down and landing on the grounding prong will very unlikely land on the grounding prong perfectly balanced and remain balanced on the grounding prong.

Skewed hypothesis.
Newton's second and third law is?
There is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects.
The acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force.
The object will bounce at an angle, likely being deflected to one or the other side of the ground blade in most cases.

- - - Updated - - -

And Jim Murry thought the discussion was over. ha ha ha.

...........Jerry - I'm not following your reasoning regarding the orientation impacting ground-prong
engagement. Seems it would be the same no matter how the receptacle is mounted..........Greg

prior to self-employment, I spent 20 years in the hospital facilities field and the norm was always to install ground slot up - as mentioned by several posters.

Originally Posted by ROBERT YOUNG

Skewed hypothesis.
Newton's second and third law is?
There is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects.
The acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force.
The object will bounce at an angle, likely being deflected to one or the other side of the ground blade in most cases.

- - - Updated - - -

And Jim Murry thought the discussion was over. ha ha ha.

You are making a presumption ... that the object it falling with sufficient speed (momentum) and has sufficient hardness to bounce all the way clear of the other prongs.

That is not a presumption that I would bet my life on in an oxygen filled room.

Originally Posted by Gregory Booth

...........Jerry - I'm not following your reasoning regarding the orientation impacting ground-prong
engagement. Seems it would be the same no matter how the receptacle is mounted..........Greg

prior to self-employment, I spent 20 years in the hospital facilities field and the norm was always to install ground slot up - as mentioned by several posters.

Gregory,

I have agreed that 'it is common practice', and even specified, to install the receptacle outlets with the ground slot up ... for the reasons given (oxygen use in the rooms), however ...

That 'ground up' orientation does not alter the fact of the physics of inserting and removing a plug from a receptacle outlet.

A plug with a cord attached (even lighter weight two wire lamp cords) have a tendency to (due to gravity) have the cord pull on the plug at a downward angle to the point that the plug sometimes even fall out of the receptacle outlet.

The floor lamp in the hotel room I am in right now - I noticed the plug was almost out of the receptacle and that is why the lamp worked some of the time but not all of the time - I pushed the plug all the way back in last night and ... no more issues with the lamp.

Look at a 3-prong plug and you will see that the ground prong is longer than the other two prongs.

This is so the ground prong will make contact first, and break contact last.

Being as you were in the hospital facilities field (any type of work where one does electrical work) ... you KNOW ... that you ALWAYS ... ALWAYS make the ground up first, and disconnect the ground last ... at least that is the correct way to wire a circuit, so I am sure you learned that too.

When a plug is plugged and the ground is down, the hot prong can pull all the way out while the ground prong is still being pushed into the receptacle outlet.

Now turn that receptacle over and have the ground slot on top ... yep ... the ground prong, even being longer, can be pull out (disconnected) with the hot prong still making contact ... that equipment is *no longer grounded* ... yet that equipment *is still energized* ... think beds and all associated equipment ... in that oxygen enriched room.

Sooo ... is 'ground up' really a 'good idea' - even in a hospital room ... ESPECIALLY in a hospital room ... with potentially ungrounded equipment?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

David,

I think you misread Jim's post ... he said (underlining is mine) "two switched receptacles".

You're undoubtedly right that he must have been saying "two switched (ones among all the) receptacles.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

You are making a presumption ... that the object it falling with sufficient speed (momentum) and has sufficient hardness to bounce all the way clear of the other prongs.

That is not a presumption that I would bet my life on in an oxygen filled room.

Oxygen filled room?
In a hospital, oxygen tubes are taped to the nostrils for sleeping purposes or a mask is worn until the patient is stabilized then tubes are used to introduce oxygen to the patent.

I have read of what you are suggesting, thinking, hypothesizing, but would like to see conclusive evidence to where this oxygen fill room is.

Be it oxygen or any combustible gas, such as natural gas or liquid propane, it takes a heat to set the chemical process in play. A match will do and I suspect operating a light switch does the same thing as inserting a plug a receptacle.


What role does the ground play outside the circuit and how would accidental heat occur?

Originally Posted by ROBERT YOUNG

Oxygen filled room?

No one here, until you, said anything about any oxygen filled room.

We acknowledge that hospital rooms may have oxygen enriched air.

Tubes? Nah ... not only tubes.

Our daughter just had surgery and had an open oxygen fed mask ... more went into the room than she took in ... she was in three different rooms over three days with the mask.

About 25 years ago I had my first introduction to pine nuts ... and spent two days in the hospital with a screen tent over me which was kept filled with oxygen, while I was kept on intravenous antihistamines .. I am sure that more oxygen went into the room than into me.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

No one here, until you, said anything about any oxygen filled room.

I will review the thread and posts.
If I am mistaken, please excuse me.

But you were relating to a possible explosion in a room with enriched oxygen and a spark was introduced, were you not?
If I am mistaken please excuse me. long day yesterday. >6 hours of traveling time on top of the time it took to inspect the house. Long day!

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

We acknowledge that hospital rooms may have oxygen enriched air.
Tubes? Nah ... not only tubes.

Nah ... and yes to explain not only?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Our daughter just had surgery and had an open oxygen fed mask ... more went into the room than she took in.

About 25 years ago I had my first introduction to pine nuts ... and spent two days in the hospital with a screen tent over me which was kept filled with oxygen, while I was kept on intravenous antihistamines .. I am sure that more oxygen went into the room than into me.

About 46 years ago was my first introduction into a hospital emergency and recovery setting. Near death. coma many days, 6 neurosurgeons 6 plus hours. The skull fracture outline are my initials. How cool is that.
Within the past 25 years more times than I care to count, lost tract, add mother, over 30 times. I suspect more.
Many/many within the last 5 years.

Never had or saw oxygen tent. Tubes and masks only.
Mother's oxygen counts was to low many times were alarms sounded, and often.
A mask was placed on her face.

I can see an oxygen tent in use allowing the patient freedom of movement and to remain calm after surgery. IMO, for that is all it is, when you have something strapped to your face you know you are having trouble getting oxygen to your blood cells.

I say prayers and suspect many here do for your family.
God bless them all and yourself.

Regards:-)

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

No one here, until you, said anything about any oxygen filled room.

We acknowledge that hospital rooms may have oxygen enriched air.

Tubes? Nah ... not only tubes.

Our daughter just had surgery and had an open oxygen fed mask ... more went into the room than she took in ... she was in three different rooms over three days with the mask.

About 25 years ago I had my first introduction to pine nuts ... and spent two days in the hospital with a screen tent over me which was kept filled with oxygen, while I was kept on intravenous antihistamines .. I am sure that more oxygen went into the room than into me.

Post #12?

This is post #12:

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

Yes, that is the norm for hospitals. They don't want sparks flying when oxygen is in use!

This is what Robert said:

Originally Posted by ROBERT YOUNG

Oxygen filled room?

Originally Posted by Jack Feldmann

Post #12?

When oxygen is in use does not equate the an oxygen filled room.

Robert,

Elevated levels of oxygen can increase the dangers related to open flames, red hot items, and yes electrical sparks.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

No one here, until you, said anything about any oxygen filled room.

It appears you are correct.
Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Robert,
Elevated levels of oxygen can increase the dangers related to open flames, red hot items, and yes electrical sparks.

I concur.
Just reading up on the subject of liquid oxygen.

Sorry for the skewed hypothesis.

Getting back to the thread, post #1. "I did an inspection on a new house yesterday and all of the receptacles in the house were upside down."

Thanks, Mark Reinmiller.
Great information.
Go the the manufacturer. They hold trump.



Jim, I do not think the electrician lied.
He was likely incorrect and would not consider an alternative installation procedure.
To be a liar, there would have to be willing intent to deceive.
Do not use him as a source for electrical reference unless you require the predominance of a conclusion to be inaccurate.

Originally Posted by ROBERT YOUNG

Go the the manufacturer. They hold trump.[/COLOR]

Go to the manufacturer - good advice ... but that manufacturer didn't say anything about which way is up or down.

The manufacturer did say to install in accordance with national and local codes ... and the NEC national code does not address up or down either.

If you look at the illustration of the face you will see "TEST" and "RESET" are shown as being 'rightside up ' either way.

And this thread is not tanking as fast as your reference is.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Gregory,

I have agreed that 'it is common practice', and even specified, to install the receptacle outlets with the ground slot up ... for the reasons given (oxygen use in the rooms), however ...

That 'ground up' orientation does not alter the fact of the physics of inserting and removing a plug from a receptacle outlet.

A plug with a cord attached (even lighter weight two wire lamp cords) have a tendency to (due to gravity) have the cord pull on the plug at a downward angle to the point that the plug sometimes even fall out of the receptacle outlet.

The floor lamp in the hotel room I am in right now - I noticed the plug was almost out of the receptacle and that is why the lamp worked some of the time but not all of the time - I pushed the plug all the way back in last night and ... no more issues with the lamp.

Look at a 3-prong plug and you will see that the ground prong is longer than the other two prongs.

This is so the ground prong will make contact first, and break contact last.

Being as you were in the hospital facilities field (any type of work where one does electrical work) ... you KNOW ... that you ALWAYS ... ALWAYS make the ground up first, and disconnect the ground last ... at least that is the correct way to wire a circuit, so I am sure you learned that too.

When a plug is plugged and the ground is down, the hot prong can pull all the way out while the ground prong is still being pushed into the receptacle outlet.

Now turn that receptacle over and have the ground slot on top ... yep ... the ground prong, even being longer, can be pull out (disconnected) with the hot prong still making contact ... that equipment is *no longer grounded* ... yet that equipment *is still energized* ... think beds and all associated equipment ... in that oxygen enriched room.

Sooo ... is 'ground up' really a 'good idea' - even in a hospital room ... ESPECIALLY in a hospital room ... with potentially ungrounded equipment?

...........while what you describe regarding pushing and pulling can probably result in premature disconnect of the ground prong - it's only going to occur with substantial twisting/deforming of the plug body and that's not going to be caused by the gravity of the cord. As for hospital use, hospital grade recepts and hospital grade plugs will simply not allow what you are suggesting to occur - ever........Greg

Originally Posted by Gregory Booth

...........while what you describe regarding pushing and pulling can probably result in premature disconnect of the ground prong - it's only going to occur with substantial twisting/deforming of the plug body and that's not going to be caused by the gravity of the cord. As for hospital use, hospital grade recepts and hospital grade plugs will simply not allow what you are suggesting to occur - ever........Greg

Obviously, you've never seen it ... NO deformation of anything is necessary and the weight of the cord over time wins ... you also apparently have not observed gravity before either.

AFAIK , hospital receptacles are tested for pullout tension on a regular basis. Cords should not be falling out of the wall.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

but that manufacturer didn't say anything about which way is up or down.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

the NEC national code does not address up or down either.

The original post did not indicate that a GFCI was the receptacle.
Marc looked through many receptacle manufacturers for orientation and found none EXCEPT, a illustration of a GFCI outlet.
You concur with my observation that Mark Reinmiller is #1
See Mark, Jerry concurs you are #1.

Originally Posted by Jim Port

AFAIK , hospital receptacles are tested for pullout tension on a regular basis. Cords should not be falling out of the wall.

"should not be" is a key phrase

I should have taken photos of the ones I saw at Duke earlier this week.

Robert,

Don't over or under read what is in manufacturer's installation instructions ... and it looks like you are doing both at the same time here.

And, yes, a thank you to Mark for those installation instructions.

Keep in mind that those installation instructions do not indicate any implied up or down orientation.

Originally Posted by Jim Port

AFAIK , hospital receptacles are tested for pullout tension on a regular basis. Cords should not be falling out of the wall.

...........you are absolutely correct.

The receptacle orientation is likely to be the result of the local code official's office. It is unfortunate that some intellectual lacking practical experience came up with the idea of the grounding conductor prong/slot being at 0^o. The idea was, and remains, ridiculous. I believe that Jerry is correct when he implies/states that any presumption about how any particular situation is going to play out is fool-hardy.

Central to the issue is that we have not just the NEC, but NEMA, to deal with. Any consumer who has purchased an appliance in the last 10 years will note, with righteous frustration, that some appliance plugs are engineered to allow the cord to immediately drop at 90^o, but some of these cords have the grounding prong at 0^o, and some have the grounding prong at 180^o. This creates a more serious problem, that of placing the cord and plug under undue strain.

My opinion is that this will never be resolved, as the confusion was sown many years ago, and is now deeply rooted. In the end, it only has significance when the orientation of the plug, when inserted in the outlet, is other than practical based on the plug design.

As for arcing and sparking as rationale, this is hilarious. There is no way to guarantee there will be no arcing or sparking at a wall outlet. Static electricity can cause arcing. Plugging in a cord can sometimes cause a spark. One may never see the spark, but it will be there. The real safety at the outlet is sourced at the electrical panel. If there is a safety failure at the outlet, it is desired that the circuit breaker open.

Perhaps recommending AFCI outlets for all of those who are petrified by the idea of a static discharge at an outlet is one option.

Thanks, Randy. Unconventional installations will annoy some people, including me. How about the upside down light switches? Some people will live with that for as long as they own the house, some will not, including me.

In the BC electrical books by PS Knight, he cautions that the 240 volt/40 amp range outlet should be installed so that the cord is horizontal. So ground to one side is best, assuming a conventional cord design.
Not pointing down, because the floor may interfere with the cord, not pointing up, because the weight of the cord will pull down on the plug.

Chiming in a bit late but if anyone says ground prong down is the correct orientation, they are wrong, if someone says ground prong up is correct, they are wrong, it is either personal preference, or job specs, that dictate which way.


I personally prefer "UP", but normally install them down.

Ground down if you are having a good day, ground up to cause confusion and mayhem if you are having a bad day.

Ground up is safest and common on commercial buildings.

Yup the ground not in the 12 o'clock position is a deal blower alright. I wouldn't buy a house if the outlets had the ground pin at the 6 o'clock position.

Get real! This type of issue is not worth an inspectors time because it's a none issue!

Originally Posted by Lisa Endza

Ground up is safest and common on commercial buildings.

Geeze, Nick (you are Nick posing as Lisa, right? ), ground down is the safest as that allows the 'hot' to pull out before the ground does ... ground needs to make contact first, break contact last.

For all those afraid of a paper clip falling onto the hot and neutral prongs on top ... if that is that common - install a bubble cover ... problem solved ... the right way.

1]The fact everyone calls it upside down is the clue .
2]If upside down you no longer will see the "OH" Face


Other than the above it is no big deal except that in most cases it causes a stress bend on the cord wiring .

Originally Posted by Bob Elliott

1]The fact everyone calls it upside down is the clue .
2]If upside down you no longer will see the "OH" Face


Other than the above it is no big deal except that in most cases it causes a stress bend on the cord wiring .

Cord stress is not an issue with most cords. It is more common on right angle plugs like for dryers. It has no additional effect on a straight cord.

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Yup the ground not in the 12 o'clock position is a deal blower alright. I wouldn't buy a house if the outlets had the ground pin at the 6 o'clock position.

Get real! This type of issue is not worth an inspectors time because it's a none issue!

Framers frame wall on deck, electricians install wiring and outlets , framers come back and stand up wall.

It may be a big issue... If the ground is at 12 o'clock then they built the wall upside down and had placed the outlets to close to the ceiling... so they turn the wall 180 deg to correct. Its all about problem solving..

I see receptacles with the ground up occasionally, but I've neer heard any of the reasoning in this thread.

It's not code in my neck of the woods and they don't do it for switched outlets most of wich are only half switched.

Originally Posted by Bob Kenney

It's not code in my neck of the woods

Jargon alert!
Does "It's not code" mean to you "It's not required by the locally adopted code" or "It's not permissible under the local interpretation of the code"?
I've seen it used both (conflicting) ways.
Thanks

Don't know anything about jargon. I was merely responding to one of the initial posts where someone was told it was code.

When I say it's not code, I mean it's not in the book, I don't care about interpretations. I don't inspect to code, that's not my job and I would never use the language with a client. Might give them the wrong idea.

I do research however and have copies of current code-books for reference purposes. Need to stay informed with the latest changes and such.

As an example, Balto. County is the only county in MD that does not explicitly require deck posts to be notched and under the beam. As a result I see many installations where the beam is merely bolted to the post. Do I point this out, of course, the language is "not recommended practice." If they want to know why I elaborate.

Originally Posted by Bob Kenney

When I say it's not code, I mean it's not in the book, I don't care about interpretations. I don't inspect to code, that's not my job and I would never use the language with a client. Might give them the wrong idea.

I do research however and have copies of current code-books for reference purposes. Need to stay informed with the latest changes and such.
.

Makes sense. Even where the latest version hasn't been adopted, I refer to what it requires as "best practices." OTOH, where I see an installation that clearly was not done to code, meaning whatever version and edition was enforced at the time of the installation, I mention this, separately. I can't tell without research whether it was done without a permit and inspection or whether the inspector missed it or let it slide. However, it suggests that other violations due to ignorant work may well be present.

I'd be willing to bet that if the requirement of a grounding cord cap and receptacle is for the ground to disconnect last and connect first that UL tested it under a number of conditions to make sure it happens that way all the time. And, I would bet that includes both zero and 180 degree mounting of the ground.

A set of diagnostic tools (hammer and sharp chisel) were used to examine a currently manufactured receptacle. It was noted that the line and neutral contacts were recessed below the ground contact for the cord cap. Several cord caps randomly sampled have a ground prong about an eighth of an inch longer than the line and neutral blades. What little bit of research I've been able to do with lights and buzzers says that with several brands and grades of currently manufactured receptacles and a number of various vintages of cord caps, the ground always disconnects last no matter how I remove the cord cap. This is pretty much what I expected. YMMV, but probably not.

Originally Posted by Bill Kriegh

A set of diagnostic tools (hammer and sharp chisel)

. . . and eye protection? Whaddya mean, you just can't see it?

Originally Posted by david shapiro

. . . and eye protection? Whaddya mean, you just can't see it?

Eye protection, a smock, a lathe (shop) bib over that, and gloves. Of course, I had been salvaging SMD components prior to this diversion so was dealing with hot stuff anyway. Safety is #1 priority, sorta like the Ru**ian H**ker guy on Y** tube.