mouth side up

[Doug Lax]

Just got m y dedicated line in and the electrician put the sockets upside down
.He said it would prevent an arc.What do you all think?

[-E-]

Only time I see upside-down outlets is to signify that switch being connected to a wall-switch.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Douglax

Just got m y dedicated kine in and the electrician put the sokets upside dow.He said it would prevent an arc.What do you all think?

Douglax.......Your electrician should install the outlets in the manner you wish to use them. Outlets only arc if you plug in or unplug something that is already turned on. Nothing will arc when plugged in deenergized. Whether an outlet is ground up or ground down does not determine whether an outlet will arc. Turn off the circuit breakers, double check that the outlets are deenergized, and then turn them the way you want.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Only time I see upside-down outlets is to signify that switch being connected to a wall-switch.

E.......I have seen construction specifications written, particularly for hospitals and nursing homes, that require the ground to be installed up. The purpose is said to be if something drops on a plug connected to the outlet and it draws the plug out of the device, the ground blade will most likely be hit, not shorting the hot and neutral blades. It is a safety issue where metal pans are often used in close proximity to outlets.

[Nodak]

As far as I know there is no significance to the way they're installed, but, all the outlets in my house are ground lug up.

[Face]

I believe it's code to have them installed "mouth up" in my area(industrial only?). It's in case something slides down the wall and hits the plug, it doesn't create an arc.

[Doug Lax]

Thanks everybody