Did you guys know this about outlets? I didn't!

[Russ5160]

Well damn. I had to fire up the googlizer. I was convinced it was code to install outlets ground down. But that doesn't appear to be the case. (unless it's a local by-law in the odd place here or there) Plenty of arguments for both ways.
Without question I guess it's safe to say the "normal" way is ground down. Certainly lots of reasons for both installations but I guess the 2 things I would go with is:
1: plugs that are made flat (so that the wire goes flat against the wall directly from the outlet like a fridge for example) are typically made with the expectation that the ground is installed down.
2: when you grab the plug to pull it out of the wall your index finger is at the bottom and can curl around the plug, there's the potential you could get your finger across the terminals if it's installed ground up, while ground down won't be an issue.

So ultimately if you choose either way you're not wrong!

E.

Ground should go up. If nothing else, it will stop kids from starting the house on fire trying to do that stupid Tiktoc challenge.

 

[DaveMueller]

I'm a ground up kinda guy. The electrician I worked for was ground down :-( One of my coworkers and I were discussing this, he said the only instance he knew of was at a convenience store where a metal spatula fell off it's hanger and landed across the hot and neutral blades of a partially inserted plug.

The video didn't mention the hole used for wrapping the ground wire.

 

[LittleBill21]

i think people should be shot who put ground up, i guess no one has transformers in their house. mine fall out with that stupid ground up, every outlet i see up gets rewired straight down, the only time i see cords coming out of outlets is when the outlets are worn out. i use 10 gauge extension cords that weigh a stupid amount, and they never even budge.

 

[OldPaint]

Many codes, including the CFR's are written in blood, and some are purely academic or based on theory and conjecture. There should be documented proof of why a code exists - ground up or down.

As others are pointing out, this does not include orientation of the receptacle. One pointed out that it could be oriented horizontally, as I have seen in MANY kitchen installations. OR, what if you install them overhead for plug-in lighting or garage door openers? What about on the floor with protective covers? There's no top or bottom in those two cases, or even left or right. Thus, no code to cover orientation. Otherwise, they could ONLY be installed at a certain height from the floor or ceiling, oriented a certain way and distance from windows, etc. I'll have to get a photo of the GFCI outlet I put in my shed. Seems upside down to me, but it's mostly because of the lack of 'standard' for manufacturing or code for installation. IIRC, the ones that use the rectangular opening covers are different to the old figure 8 ones. As for putting the 'hot' wire on the right or left, well the method is good for righties, but what if I'm a lefty and need to work on something he installed? If you want five only ways to install a receptacle, just ask 5 electricians.

 

[OldPaint]

Ground should go up. If nothing else, it will stop kids from starting the house on fire trying to do that stupid Tiktoc challenge.

Darwin was right. If nothing else, the gene pool will get deeper if the stupid kids keep trying.

 

[Gord Baker]

Well damn. I had to fire up the googlizer. I was convinced it was code to install outlets ground down. But that doesn't appear to be the case. (unless it's a local by-law in the odd place here or there) Plenty of arguments for both ways.
Without question I guess it's safe to say the "normal" way is ground down. Certainly lots of reasons for both installations but I guess the 2 things I would go with is:
1: plugs that are made flat (so that the wire goes flat against the wall directly from the outlet like a fridge for example) are typically made with the expectation that the ground is installed down.
2: when you grab the plug to pull it out of the wall your index finger is at the bottom and can curl around the plug, there's the potential you could get your finger across the terminals if it's installed ground up, while ground down won't be an issue.

So ultimately if you choose either way you're not wrong!

E.

The thinking behind Ground Up is that if children were playing with a table knife or similar metal band if they slide it down from the top, they will hit the ground, not live conductors. I wired a Bunkie this way but the owner was not pleased. I didn't change it.

 

[FTG-05]

i think people should be shot who put ground up, i guess no one has transformers in their house. mine fall out with that stupid ground up, every outlet i see up gets rewired straight down, the only time i see cords coming out of outlets is when the outlets are worn out. i use 10 gauge extension cords that weigh a stupid amount, and they never even budge.

Preach it brother! I despise ground up.

 

[WranglerX]

Did you know Leviton has instructions inside the box on how to install receptical

 

[bcp]

The instruction illustration is ground down. The diagram on the box cover is ground up.



Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

The instruction illustration is ground down. The diagram on the box cover is ground up.



Bruce

Cover your bases.