stupid elec. question...

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixmkr
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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
since some elec. "gurus" seem to frequent here....what would the correct orientation for a typical three prong wall plug be?... the ground plug at the bottom (as most seen) or at the top (as to prevent shorting across the nuetral and hot in the event it wasn't all the way plugged in, and you just happen...just happen.. to drop something conductive across the two prongs)? I've seen both in many instances and heard both are correct...or neither is wrong. Since Kentucky can't spell the word "kode", what is the code in the big city?
 
Either way is acceptable.

I've worked in a couple hospitals where it was spec'd that the ground prong would be on top for exactly the reason you describe.

If you mounted them horizontally I'd suggest mounting with the "neutral" up. :)
 
7 is right - either way is technically acceptable, however i stipulate on all of our projects that the ground be installed up. The little bit of extra protection it adds makes sense. Besides which - it takes exactly the same labor.

Rod
 
Besides which, that way you can tell the REALLY dumb electricians to use the phrase "Righty-Whitey" to remember where the Neutral goes :=) ('course, then you'll have to 'splain that that's from the FRONT of the outlet) - on second thought, never mind; in fact, don't even READ this post... STeve
 
!

The actual national electrical "kode" does state that you mount with the common on top. And if you really really want to get geeky it's not the "neutral" that is on top. It's the common, a true neutral is a conductor that carries the unbalanced current. Like lighting circuits. But that's getting really stupid technical. I'm really just bored so I thought I'd throw that in.


Correction: the conductor on the top is the groundED conductor and the white wire is the groundING/common. sorry had a brain fart
 
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Thanks mixmkr, I never though about that three prong plug in thing before, good idea. I'm getting ready to wire up a new studio and maybe some of the electrians here could help out. My local electrical supplier sez put a 100 amp breaker in my 200 amp box and run the wires to my studio into a 100 amp box, install my 20 amp breakers and run my outlets 3 per and lights. 200 amp box with 100 amp breaker>100 amp box with 20 amp breakers?sound right? need another 8' ground at the studio? I've done house wiring, by no means an electrician, need some input. Thanks
 
The NEC doesn't specify whether the outlets go right side up or upside down, but you're right in that putting the ground "up" means its significantly more difficult to short hot and neutral together with a thin metal object falling down the wall.

As someone mentioned, hospitals often ask for this to avoid flying scalpals from shorting hot and neutral during a rush session in the ER.

Its actually very smart to do so. The outlets in my studio are either upside down, or sideways, actually.
 
Sounds like whiney excuses not to build a studio if oyu ask me :D
 
Actually, that was one of the "niggling" excuses - the "whiney" ones usually involve money or weather :=)) ... Steve
 
Actually, I had what Mixmkr described happen to me, ala 220 V! We decided to take the ugly mismatched splash guard down from behind the stove a few months ago. I got to the last screw and was trying to hold the thing up and operate the screw gun at the same time when my wife said "Here, I'll help." So she presses on the splash guard and I let go except she didn't have as good a hold of it as she thought she did. It slipped and guess where it fell? Right in between the 220 V receptacle and the stove plug. Made lost of smoke and cool noises too for a couple of seconds. I ended up replaing both the stove harness and the receptacle before I could get it to work again without tripping the breaker.
 
Ouch!

I had a guy drop a crescent wrench down a compressed copper building buss - 660V top to bottom, on exposed compressed copper conductors.

Lets just say the wrench pretty much evaporated. I was very pleased, as an insured contractor, not having to replace those long, expensive busses.
 
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