Upside down receptacles?

[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.

[Julie Moriarty]

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

I think I can see why...

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

But why only two eyes? And how come teachers have eyes in the back of their heads?

[Rob Damon]

In the design world, you either put a light fixture on the ceiling or you provide a switch receptacle. Either meets the Building Code for required lighting in the space. If you want a clean looking ceiling, you go with a switched outlet..... and then 10 years later the owner hires an Electrician to add a ceiling outlet for a ceiling fan with a light kit......

[Dan Hintz]

In the design world, you either put a light fixture on the ceiling or you provide a switch receptacle. Either meets the Building Code for required lighting in the space. If you want a clean looking ceiling, you go with a switched outlet..... and then 10 years later the owner hires an Electrician to add a ceiling outlet for a ceiling fan with a light kit......

<chuckle> For some odd reason, our new house has both in nearly every room. Even more surprising to me is there are hardly any ceiling lights installed... cost would have been, what, and extra $30-50/room?

[Chris Padilla]

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.

It is pretty simple to wire in/out the switched hot. A few years ago on a tip from a buddy, I started wiring all my rooms with /3 and made the red wire a switched hot. Now I can go to any outlet Mrs. Chris deems necessary to have a lamp at that can be switched or even return everything back to unswitched. Sitting here thinking, I have no idea if I made the top one or the bottom one switched.

[Brian Elfert]

The house I just bought and renovated had one bedroom with just a switched outlet. As part of the electrical work I put a ceiling light fixture in. My father helped me with it and he kept the switched outlet so now I have two switches instead of just one. I can't imagine ever wanting a switched outlet in that bedroom.

I have switched outlets in the living room and I do use them for a lamp since the ceiling light fixture glares off my plasma TV.

[Jim Koepke]

Sitting here thinking, I have no idea if I made the top one or the bottom one switched.

Ask Mrs. Chris, I bet she knows.

jtk

[Pat Barry]

The house I just bought and renovated had one bedroom with just a switched outlet. As part of the electrical work I put a ceiling light fixture in. My father helped me with it and he kept the switched outlet so now I have two switches instead of just one. I can't imagine ever wanting a switched outlet in that bedroom.

I have switched outlets in the living room and I do use them for a lamp since the ceiling light fixture glares off my plasma TV.

Every room in our house (except the bathrooms) have combination switched and unswitched outlets. The switched ones are on the bottom and the unswitched on the top. You will get used to it being the opposite Brian or you can rewire them when the other 999 things to do are done. In the end, I do think having a switched outlet in the bedroom is good for table lamps for example. The overhead lamp is not pleasant for nighttime laying in bed reading, etc.

[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.

[Matt Marsh]

OCD folks, don't let your head explode!

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