Upside down receptacles?

[Ole Anderson]

In my wife's hospital room a few weeks ago I noticed these receptacles: I was always taught that the ground plug should be on the bottom. To me any other way just looks wrong. Hospitals often require one of the highest level of commercial work. 12 outlets and none of them being used! Please understand I am not slamming these U of M hospital specs, even though I am a Spartans fan.

[George Bokros]

Years ago I remember them being installed that way.

[Judson Green]

An electrician once told me that they should be that way. The thinking is that if something metal dropped on the plug it would hit the grounding lug first. But I think it looks weird too.

[Bruce Page]

An electrician once told me that they should be that way. The thinking is that if something metal dropped on the plug it would hit the grounding lug first. But I think it looks weird too.

That's what I was told by my electrician.

[Dave Richards]

Our hospitals and clinics have them installed that way. Partly for the reason Judson gave. The other reason is if the receptacle loosens, it is the ground pin which becomes exposed instead of the hot. There are specs on how much withdrawl force is required to remove them but they do get looser over time. I think the spec is that they should be tight enough that when the nurse unplugs the cord by yanking on it from across the room, the plug comes off the cord.

What kind of a room is it? There seem to be a lot of emergency power receptacles in one spot.

[Mel Fulks]

I once heard a radio show DIY host give some scenario where ground up would be better ,but I did not absorb much of
the answer ,and he described it as pretty arcane stuff. Something about a fire and arcing out.

[David Ezell]

This thread brings back memories. It was 22 years ago that I built the house my wife and I occupy today. As general contractor/grunt I took on the electrical wiring. My wife still cringes every time she plugs something in. She had little faith in my abilities. However, among the 10,000 decisions that you consult each other on during construction, the results on this one still raise observant eyebrows. As I delved into stripping wire and installing outlets I drew a blank on this ground up/ground down question. Lacking Google, I called my beloved, who happen to work in a hospital, and asked her to look at the outlet closest to her and give me guidance. So there you have it. I can always tell guests who notice that the wiring in our house is "commercial" grade. Later, I heard that another reason hospitals do this is that if something gets loose inside the wall and falls down, crushing the metal receptacle box, it would contact the ground first.

[Dan Hintz]

Later, I heard that another reason hospitals do this is that if something gets loose inside the wall and falls down, crushing the metal receptacle box, it would contact the ground first.

If something falls down inside the wall, it would hit the grounded box first. Crushing through that, it would hit the plastic socket body itself. Crushing through that, I think you have bigger things to worry about than hitting a ground wire first.

[Phil Thien]

If something falls down inside the wall, it would hit the grounded box first. Crushing through that, it would hit the plastic socket body itself. Crushing through that, I think you have bigger things to worry about than hitting a ground wire first.

I think they stopped suspending sand bags inside the walls back in about 65 or 70, so it should be moot anyhow.

[Brian Elfert]

I wish was there was an easy way to denote switch outlets when one plug is switched and the other is not. The house I recently bought was wired with the switch outlet on top and the non-switched outlet on the bottom. Common sense dictates you do the opposite as switched lamps and such are usually plugged in long term. My father replaced the receptacles and didn't switch the wiring. (He was the one who taught me the switched outlet goes on the bottom.) Now I want to change them, but it is about #1,000 on the list of things to finish in my house.

[Phil Thien]

I wish was there was an easy way to denote switch outlets when one plug is switched and the other is not. The house I recently bought was wired with the switch outlet on top and the non-switched outlet on the bottom. Common sense dictates you do the opposite as switched lamps and such are usually plugged in long term. My father replaced the receptacles and didn't switch the wiring. (He was the one who taught me the switched outlet goes on the bottom.) Now I want to change them, but it is about #1,000 on the list of things to finish in my house.

Nah, I'd rather have the switched receptacle on top.

That way there is less of a chance that something plugged into the other receptacle (like a wall wart) will obstruct the switched receptacle.

[Chris Padilla]

I install all mine at 45 degrees...or is that 135 degrees?!?!

I read once on Mike Holt's forum that this topic is a banned from being discussed there. LOL!

Also, I think David Helm nailed it: it just looks correct to us humans to have two eyes over the mouth.

[Brian Elfert]

Nah, I'd rather have the switched receptacle on top.

That way there is less of a chance that something plugged into the other receptacle (like a wall wart) will obstruct the switched receptacle.

My experience is that you don't end up using most of the switched outlets. A lamp, or two, is usually about it. It is a pain to put something in the upper outlet and then remember after it won't turn on that only the lower outlet is live. I suppose once you live in the house long enough you'll remember that only the lower outlets are live in the living room.

[Pat Barry]

If something falls down inside the wall, it would hit the grounded box first. Crushing through that, it would hit the plastic socket body itself. Crushing through that, I think you have bigger things to worry about than hitting a ground wire first.

Yes - this is correct. Leave the building ASAP if this is happening.

[Mel Fulks]

Well, why are they so crooked ? I would not pay for that .