Duplex receptacle orientation code ?

[Poodle Head Mikey]

With a standard grounded 15 or 20 amp receptacle - does the NEC specify the orientation of the ground portion? Does it have to be up? Does it have to be down?

If it does: what is the section of the NEC which addresses this issue?

[VTP99]

Now a days I see them all ground up. Where as back in the day it was vise versa.
I came to the conclusion that if a spatula slid down the wall it would hit the ground first.

[BBeerme]

I've got a touch of OCD in me. Nothing too medical, it's just a hunch of mine.

Outlets need to be installed with the ground down. You'll never see an outlet with the ground up in my house.

On a bit of a tangent, did I ever tell you of the time I was a child of maybe 10, and I intentionally dropped a penny on the hot legs of a plug that wasn't all the way in? Oh yeah, got to meet mister sparky . . . LOL

[Poodle Head Mikey]

I find the ground-up orientation disturbing to look at. Although ground-down does look like an annoyed Frenchman's face. Still; I find that a far more acceptable appearance.

I have heard many times that ground-up is safer as a thin metal object sliding between a plug and a ground-down receptacle could produce a short and fire hazard - whereas a ground-up orientation would present the ground first and so prevent the short.

This "logic" is ridiculous as most plugs do not have a ground prong and so the H and N prongs would be equally accessible for short circuiting in either receptacle orientation.

But: none of that addresses my question. Which is: Does The NEC specifically address receptacle orientation?

PHM
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Now a days I see them all ground up. Where as back in the day it was vise versa.
I came to the conclusion that if a spatula slide down the wall it would hit the ground first.

[Bnmarshall]

Our University design standards require ground up. This is said to prevent things like paperclips or other metal objects from sliding down the wall and arcing. Legit concern in an office environment I guess.

[VTP99]

I find the ground-up orientation disturbing to look at. Although ground-down does look like an annoyed Frenchman's face. Still; I find that a far more acceptable appearance.

I have heard many times that ground-up is safer as a thin metal object sliding between a plug and a ground-down receptacle could produce a short and fire hazard - whereas a ground-up orientation would present the ground first and so prevent the short.


This "logic" is ridiculous as most plugs do not have a ground prong and so the H and N prongs would be equally accessible for short circuiting in either receptacle orientation.

But: none of that addresses my question. Which is: Does The NEC specifically address receptacle orientation?

PHM
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No there is no NEC code for orientation.
NEC Article 406

[WAYNE3298]

I have never installed one ground up and never will. A long time back I checked the NEC and never found a requirement for up or down. To me up looks wrong no matter what any code may say.

[billygoat22]

Saw a commercial last week and they showed an outlet in the top surface of a counter top. that is a code violation. You can still put outlets in a floor, but need a cap to seal when not in use.

Only seen a few that were on bottom of surface, like garage door opener or under a baywindow outside (weird place for one, but out of weather)

never heard of an orientation requirement, even on a range or dryer outlet. Problem there is there is no standard for where the bumpout space on the back of a range is located, so a range may not push against wall when you replace it w new.

[VTP99]

Saw a commercial last week and they showed an outlet in the top surface of a counter top. that is a code violation.

That is correct.

[BBeerme]

Put the question to Mike Holt. On this forum, I look to Timebuilder for answers to these types of questions. And whatever he says, I do not question. Above Timebuilder, is Mike Holt. That's where the answers are.

[Poodle Head Mikey]

Behind electric stoves I install a 'fire block' between the wall studs at 13" up from the floor and leave the space below the block open. Then I mount the stove receptacle to the side of the wall stud which is closest to the center of the stove-space.

That way any stove will fit flush to the wall behind it.

PHM
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. . . . there is no standard for where the bumpout space on the back of a range is located, so a range may not push against wall when you replace it w new.

[Snapperhead]

I cannot stand to see them ground up

Some cords have to loop up and hang over backwards when they put them like that

[billygoat22]

I've noticed that flat plugs w ground have the cord on the ground pin side, so if the ground is down, wire lays flat. if ground is up, the cord comes out top and droops over, pulling on the plug rather than hanging straight down.

[BBeerme]

How about when they made the red light green light change on MCC panels?

That both confused me and pissed me off at the same time.

In my 10 years as an Electrician all I've ever heard is people trying to come up with clever explanations to accommodate their OCD on receptacle orientation. There is nothing in code except on counters. Just accept it.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Poodle Head Mikey]

OCD is just a created / applied label for the quite natural human tendency to attempt to simplify one's world. Forming a habit to do something exactly the same way frees up brain power as you don't have to critically assess habitual items each time.

This happens in thought processes all the time - hence my signature line. <g>

What is very stupid about that change is power plants use red in the opposite of green in general industry (NFPA 79). It's all an ego thing.

I really hate standards that aren't really standards. When I train apprentices I continually tell myself to leave my OCD at home but explain why some people do things one way or another.

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[billygoat22]

I've seen it go the other way, give some leeway and people go with "the laziest way"

[norcal01]

The NEC does not specify up/down orientation for 15A & 20A receptacles, it is purely job specs or personal preference, anyone who says one way is the correct way & the other is not, is wrong. NEC code committees have refused to touch the issue, and professional electricians forums will lock topics posted about ground up/down.

30A & 50A receptacles for electric dryers & ranges need to be mounted ground prong up (3-wire dryer or range receptacles would be mounted neutral prong up since they are non-grounding dual voltage devices) to accommodate the right angle plugs molded on the cord, it just screams ignorance when a receptacle was mounted incorrectly. Canada requires them to be mounted sideways in a very specific location behind the appliance.

[BBeerme]

Ground is always down. I am right.

Anyone who install an outlet upside down, will find it proper the next time they see it.

The NEC does not specify up/down orientation for 15A & 20A receptacles, it is purely job specs or personal preference, anyone who says one way is the correct way & the other is not, is wrong. NEC code committees have refused to touch the issue, and professional electricians forums will lock topics posted about ground up/down.

30A & 50A receptacles for electric dryers & ranges need to be mounted ground prong up (3-wire dryer or range receptacles would be mounted neutral prong up since they are non-grounding dual voltage devices) to accommodate the right angle plugs molded on the cord, it just screams ignorance when a receptacle was mounted incorrectly. Canada requires them to be mounted sideways in a very specific location behind the appliance.

[DavidDeBord]

I've got a touch of OCD in me. Nothing too medical, it's just a hunch of mine.

Outlets need to be installed with the ground down. You'll never see an outlet with the ground up in my house.

On a bit of a tangent, did I ever tell you of the time I was a child of maybe 10, and I intentionally dropped a penny on the hot legs of a plug that wasn't all the way in? Oh yeah, got to meet mister sparky . . . LOL

Ground down here too, ... And, when You saw "Sparky", did ya hear the Bee Gees wailing "Stayin' Alivvvvvvvvvve!!!!"?

I can remember back in he early 60s, when We were puttiing up a Xmas tree, & my Dad wanted to test the lights, ... I don't know why,... May be "the Devil made me do it"? But I saw a light that didn't have a bulb in the socket, so I put my finger in there. It was exhilarating!!!!

[DavidDeBord]

That is correct.