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You might have noticed over the years some receptacles (outlets) are installed with the ground down and others with the ground up. Sometimes this changes from room-to-room or home-to-home. The question is what way is correct? Is there a code that gives guidance? Is one way safer than another? Are there any drawbacks I should be aware of when picking during install?
I will answer all of these questions in this video and don’t forget to provide your feedback/vote on which way you prefer.
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how do you install a GFI
I have NEVER seen a ground up installation , and I'm 65.
Another expert stated that if the receptacle is off the ground 3 feet or more then the ground is facing up.
Ground down is safer. It's natural when plugging/unplugging is to have your thumb up top, and your index finger wrapped under. I've known several people who have inadvertently shocked themselves on inverted outlets because their index finger slipped under and touched both hot and neutral. Obviously ground down doesn't have this shock hazard.
Ground UP
All timers, CO detectors and other devices have ground down and would be upside down…
The code used to be with the ground down and if the plug comes out far enough for something to make contact with the hot and the common they'll not far enough in the receptacle for them to make a connection with the hot lead and the plug it's self.
Since receptacles can be oriented horizontally – it is difficult to regulate up or down
At 3:13, that actually happened to me many years ago! I was arranging the speakers for a new receiver I'd just recently purchased, and the wires for the speaker came loose. I cursed my luck when the bare wires came in contact with a plug behind the entertainment center and blew out my new receiver. What were the odds!? I grew up with the ground on the bottom, so it looks weird to me to see it on top, but now I see the value in doing it that way.
Ground up use to always make the most sense for the reasons you stated; however, with polarized plugs, 90 degree plugs and many "attach to the wall" devices, ground down has become more compatible.
The problem is …..
Manufacturers of electrical items ie (phone chargers) don’t consider ground orientation so……..things don’t fit properly. All electricians should unite and resolve this controversy. Thanks
This is a retarded vid. Lmao. I was an electrician for 30 years. Ground goes facing down. Period. Not one electical company in America will put them facing up. I cant believe thia go so many views. Moronic.
I do it ground down, which is what I learned from licensed electricians. However, I am one to notice this stuff wherever I am, which is very anal of course, but recently I saw it installed ground up in a new wing that was added to my Honda dealer service waiting room and also noticed it ground up in a couple of hospital facilities. So I would guess it relates to the specs for the job and, since code does not specify, it is acceptable.
I mounted mine sideways just to confuse people.
Ground down.
I'm doing ground up for replacements simply because I prefer taking the ground off the box and screwing it directly into the outlet rather than relying on the screw to ground the outlet. The ground wire has more contact this way and is more effective. Oh, I should explain that since I'm doing replacements that the ground wire is already cut and generally feeds from the top so putting ground down would require a slightly longer ground wire which I don't have.
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The reason you WANT the ground hole on the bottom is because of the electrons. If the outlet ground is " UP ", the electrons drip out. Electrons float UP like Helium gas for example. So if the ground hole is UP, the electrons can drip out and float up to your ceiling. This causes you bill to go up a little. But the major problem is static electricity. When the ground hole is up, the dripping electrons change the ozone in the room causing greater differences between earth ground and other metal objects not grounded. So, you might get zapped from a door knob or zap from touching your TV. Give it a test. In ONE room switch all the outlets to ground hole up. Give it a week, for the electrons to drip out the ground hole and fill the room. In some cases, you will smell ozone as the room becomes flooded with free flowing electrons. You can tape foil over outlets to stop the loss of electrons due to dripping. ( PLEASE DO NOT insert the foil in to the out let holes! only cover the outlet! And you MUST use electrical tape for this. Electric tape is coated with something that neutralizes free floating trons. It actually does this for all three trons, Positive / Negative / Neutral. )
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I vote ground down. 1. It keeps with the convention of the hot lead, being on the right. 2. In terms of safety concerns, if the plug does come loose, you want to prioritize the ground connection holding on over the hot and neutral.
Naw, they need to be ground side down. If you do ground side up, you lose the surprise face!!! Lol ?
Risky manuver with the like/dislike poll captain.
Inside the house I prefer ground down for aesthetics. I the garage or outdoor receptacles I prefer ground up because when I use a heavy 100ft extension cord the longer ground pin will keep it from pulling out better. If I have an indoor receptacle not holding the plug well, I replace with a new one. People do not realize that the spring tension inside the device will deteriorate over time depending on how many times something gets plugged and unplugged into it. The most convenient outlet will be the most used outlet and will need replacing more often. Also if you have one that will not hold the cord plug well for lack of tension that creates a fire hazard because of heat building up due to the less contact surface area acting as resistance to the electrons trying to flow. :< LOL
Working in NYC, we always installed receptacles ground up for the reason given in the video. It will prevent an arc flash or fire if something falls onto a plug and the breaker fails to trip. I always thought that was actual code until I escaped the people’s republic of NY and found that everybody where I live now are odded out when they see ground up. I read up and found an article in a psychological mag that pointed out people like ground down because it resembles a face and faces make people happy. Just my experience with this topic.
I prefer ground facing down. Your video was very clear. Products like Dyson vacuum cleaners that DO NOT HAVE A 3-PRONG PLUG come out of the wall and ruin the outlet. Thanks, Dyson.
Well, from my experience, ground top, because some of the plugs are L shaped, and by them you want the cable to go down to the ground. You probably dont want it to be poiting upwards, as there would be a lot of bend in the cable by the joint….So Up!
Always had them ground down, no problems arise from that. That safety concern is quite reasonable.
Since the ground pin is longer i find it easier to plug into a ground up receptacle . When i was the chief engineer at a Nashville hotel all my receptacles were installed ground-up.
For me ….it is always UP, UP and UP, it goes…..LOL. ???
The Nec code book is basically a guideline to follow. Its up to each individual municipalities to enforce or make any changes they deam nessecarry. Leviton makes the best devices. Also initial instillation is very important for maintaining outlet integrity. Good video sir.
Ground up for added safety.
Ours are all ground up including the 240 for the electric dryer which is extremely unsightly and doesn’t look secure.
For outlets mounted sideways, I'd have the neutral be on top. Less shock hazard.
I bought a brand new condo in 2010 and was amused to see that some of the receptacles were up and some down.
you do know that if you are not a licensed electrician, most regulators do NOT allow you to even install a receptacle, no matter up or down
my question is this. what are your qualifacations
In a combined fixture of switch and receptacle installed vertically, which way will the ground will always be installed?
The ground should always be the last thing unplugged period. Accidents happen when things get unplugged tripped over etc etc. Ground comes out last and not any voltage or current flowing through the user/person that way. You have to bend the plug upwards to remove the plug and ground comes out last. There is a reason plugs are low to the ground/surface you have to reach down and pull upwards. Now higher mounted say garage no difference but near the lower to the ground specs nope ground down. There is a reason the ground pin is longer. It comes out last.
Ground facing UP is a hospital and hospital grade recepticle