Should An Outlet Be Installed Ground Down Or Up

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You might have noticed over the years some receptacles (outlets) are installed with the ground down and others with the ground up. Sometimes this changes from room-to-room or home-to-home. The question is what way is correct? Is there a code that gives guidance? Is one way safer than another? Are there any drawbacks I should be aware of when picking during install?
I will answer all of these questions in this video and don't forget to provide your feedback/vote on which way you prefer.
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[@rickbo3366]

The way the electrician in our new construction home did it, the ground faced up only on outlets controlled by a wall switch. Makes it easy to tell which one is controlled by a switch in the room.

[@tylerw4593]

Came to make a similar comment

[@donhorn548]

That is a very good idea

[@greeneagleproductions503]

This is correct. Ground facing up is half hot. On a switch

[@Ladco77]

That's a common practice that I've seen. My house is wired like that.

[@rv6amark]

That is exactly the way ALL of the new homes are wired that I have looked at here in Southern California in the last 20 years. It is so common that I have assumed there is a local code that specifies ground down UNLESS it is a switched outlet.

[@handydadtv]

I prefer ground-down for most outlets. I like the practice of reversing to ground-up for switched outlets. That's how my builder did it. Sure beats walking around the room with a lamp to figure out which one is switched.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

For sure! Also, nice channel I have ran across your content in the past and you are doing a great job 👍. Keep up the good work.

[@johnnyz7752]

Yeah, but, I have outlets in my living room where the bottom outlet is connected to a wall switch, so I can turn a lamp on or off by the wall switch, and the upper outlet has constant power, like where we plug in a clock or Alexa device. Something that we do not want to be affected by the wall switch.

[@robb0995]

I prefer a color change for switched receptacles, but inverting the orientation is a common practice. The problem is that of only one plug in the receptacle is switched, then you still have to guess which half is switched. Colored faces address this problem as you can get receptacles with only one outlet colored.

[@jaycweingardt11]

Love it, Never heard of it, Every house I do now will have that.

[@stevieg.4816]

@@robb0995 Electrical standard practice. outlets that are split and one half is switched, the switched should be on the top half. I have been doing that since the 70's when I started the trade as I was taught.

[@fineartbymattphilleo]

I’m a portrait artist and I installed outlets into my studio. (I got help from my electrician friend) I had the ground down 😮 because the eyes should be on the top and the mouth on the bottom. 😊

[@Osprey850]

This is the correct reason. Why would anyone want the face upside down? That seems demonic, like in those movies when holy crosses get turned upside down.

[@rosalindhendricks6337]

That would be my answer also, but I’m not an electrician. 😄

[@SommerWildes1980]

Our entire house was wired with the ground up, and I had never seen this done before. At first I didn't think much of it, but in the 5 years of living here and using the plugs I have found it to be a pain in the neck, since most things that need to be plugged in are manufactured for ground down. Case in point, my son got me a small wall outlet air purifier for the kitchen and because of the plug being ground up the purifier had to sit upside down and wouldn't hold into the plug. So I just flipped the power off and turned it around so I could use it. It's been like that for so many things. Now as I renovate different rooms I take that opportunity to flip the plug orientation because it just doesn't work for us.

[@jmdavison62]

Most commercial equipment with 90-degree plugs arranges them for the ground pin to be on top. This is also the case with commercial equipment for which receptacles are preinstalled: consider, for example, the General Electric GE1LU532SS RV Outlet Box. And, of course, modern medical facilities almost invariably use the standard ground-pin-up orientation: see IEEE Std. 602-1986 (Electric Systems in Health Care Facilities). In other words, when it counts, the ground pin orientation matches that specified in the drawings in ANSI/ NEMA WD 6-2021, _Wiring Devices-Dimensional Specifications_ (2022-02-22) and recommended by the the National Electrical Contractors Association's National Electrical Installation Standards (NECA 130-2010) and IEEE Std. 602-1986 (Electric Systems in Health Care Facilities). In residential installations, it's more of a free-for-all, driven more by aesthetic considerations (laypersons seem to prefer the "unhappy face" look of a NEMA 5-15R receptacle) than anything having to do with sound engineering or safety practices. The domestic appliance marketplace responds as you'd expect, prioritizing customer demand above all else. It's also worth noting that upside-down NEMA 5-20R receptacles look less like "unhappy faces" than upside-down NEMA 5-15R receptacles, but for historical reasons, homes tend to have far more NEMA 5-15R receptacles than NEMA 5-20R receptacles -- even on 20 A circuits, so the inertia of the "unhappy face" style of installation continues to dominate. If a certain plug orientation is incompatible with an appliance's intended application, it doesn't automatically mean that the receptacle's orientation is "wrong." However, if the easiest solution is for the receptacle to be installed upside down, then by all means, install it with the equipment ground pin down, but that doesn't imply that, as a rule of thumb, all receptacles should be installed that way. There's a lot of folk wisdom masquerading as informed opinion when it comes to receptacle orientation. More examples include horizontally installed receptacles having the equipment ground hole on the right (popular in Chicago, Illinois) and installing only switched outlets with the equipment ground pin up. As far as I know, there is nothing in any electrical code that requires either of these practices. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.).

[@capq57]

Anything that mounts directly on the outlet, such as a nightlight or similar device, is clearly made to prefer ground-down orientation. Same with appliance cords, such as refrigerators. The overwhelming majority of outlets I've seen in my life are installed that way.

[@lanedexter6303]

Exactly. While there is some logic to ground upward, nearly all right angle plugs are designed for ground downward (I’ve used a few that could be adjusted, but those plugs are not cheap). So I still install ground downward.

[@KevinBenecke]

Plus if you plug one of those right angle plugs into a plug with the ground up, it puts a sharp strain on the wire because of how it bends.

[@chrisk926]

Most nightlights manufactured now have rotating plugs that make the ground orientation of an outlet irrelevant.

[@redstang5150]

@@chrisk926 Most? Not really. There's a few. Most don't.

[@Nonplused]

Timers seem to expect ground down as well.

[@johnzeller1338]

54 years ago when I started as an electrician I was told always ground down because most plugs have ground down. This way there's less tension on the chord.

[@notsure7874]

Ground down just seems to hold cords in better. Like it's resting on the ground, and not so easy to pull out the top. Ground up all the pull is on the one pin...

[@josephmalinowski6817]

The only time I'm a put a ground on top or on the side when hanging a TV just because the plugs on a TV some lay flatter with the outlet upside down or on its side but besides that I always put the outlet with the ground facing down

[@redfishonfly58]

When I play chords on my guitar I like tension between the chords. Makes the music more interesting. I just need to make sure there is no tension on my amplifier cord.

[@catsplat839]

If ground down and cord comes out then ground wire will be the last thing to come out.

[@claywithers523]

48 yrs ago when I started an electrical apprenticeship here in the UK, the square pin plugs were the criteria for new installalations, now not much has changed since I left the trade a few years after qualifying as a JIB(Joint Industrial Board) approved electrician, but according to the latest IEE regulations (Institute of Electrical Engineers) I am not permitted to even wire up a 3 pin plug apparently in 2021, yet in my last years in the trade, I was mostly troubleshooting problems with electrical faults in commercial and private property installations. However when I moved into my current home nearly 20yrs ago, it still had the original 1950's wiring in most of it, with an old wooden fusebox with porcelain rewireable fuses in it, only the kitchen and the cellar rooms had modern post '73 wiring. I rewired the house apart from those 2 areas, which I checked in accordance with regulations, and found them complying with insulation and earth tests with the regulations, apart from the colour of the insulation on the wires, I found no other faults, I installed a new fusebox with RCDs(Residual current devices) on each circuit. I left the old box mounted on the board to remind me of how things used to be, it is not connected to the mains, I think the latest installation guide requires ELCB's(Earth leakage Circuit Breakers), but I won't be fitting those as it is a disproportionate cost in regard to minimal extra safety, and I'm not allowed to do it anyway, so would have to call in an electrician. Yet politicians without medical degrees can tell me to wear a nose/mouth mask which cuts my intake of oxygen, and lowers my body's onboard immunity system to the detriment of said immune system; oh the hypocrisy in this modern world! Such is life.... The earth pin is on top in the UK, it's standard, and most plugs have the cable to the appliance coming out the opposite end to the Earth pin.

[@wituka4203]

I'm so glad that I live in Australia. All our outlets are installed ground down. In the case of a downwards pull on the plug, it's most important that the earth (ground) stays connected. That said, our plugs don't tend to pull out of the outlets, probably because of the angled active (hot) and neutral pins. The active and neutral pins on all modern plugs are also insulated for about half their length. If they do pull out, they disconnect before the bare conductor is exposed.

[@davdmoi]

Where you live there everything start with down under. Even the land you are is in bottom part of the earth 😂. Just my opinion.

[@Astronomator]

Ground-up makes more sense to me from a safety perspective, but I always install outlets ground-down because so many plugs and transformers--like the quick-90 plug you demonstrated--are designed for gound-down installation.

[@wildbikerbill6530]

I have a bunch of 90 degree three prong adapters. In an outlet installed ground-up, that means the adapted cord plugs in from above rather than a more normal below.

[@wildbikerbill6530]

@Almost Average ? The point is, in a ground side up wall plug, the 90 degree adapter ends up facing up, were it will be more prone to stuff falling into the holes. Also, ANY cord you plug in is going to have a rather severe bend in it because instead of a 90 degree downward bend, it now has to make a 180 degree downward bend. I don't see where the country of manufacture for any electric cord makes a difference to this fact of geometry. It has everything to do with the universe of adapters that plug into wall sockets assume a bottom position for the ground wire.

[@charlesrichards5389]

Ground-down for three (more*) reasons: 1. Most plugs with grounds are shaped for your thumb to be flat on top as your index finger wraps around the bottom, making your index finger more likely to touch the bottom prong(s), 2. Electrical outlet extenders (especially the ones with usb ports) now come with a shelf on top to lay your cellphone on and are oriented for ground-down outlets, and 3. In case of flooding, you'd want rising water to contact the ground prong first. * I wanted to mention 90-degree plugs favoring ground-down outlets, but you covered that.

[@Howard10Howie]

Nailed it with the flood. Should have stated that first. And if the plug backs out over time you will most like break the L line first.

[@motorhead1825]

Reason no. 1 happened to me when I was about 10 yrs old. My index finger touched the bottom prongs and I got a reality check.

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Charles - I agree! I like the flooding comment. All plugs that I installed are groundown.

[@Cotronixco]

That third one is really stupid. If floodwater ends up reaching an outlet, I'd want the breaker to trip sooner rather than later.

[@charlesrichards5389]

@@Cotronixco Good point. There's a chance that the person who installed the outlet upside-down is standing in the water and Darwin wins!

[@UFO4X]

All of the outlets in our house are ground facing down. I noticed that when I plug a polarized night light in, it is right side up. If the ground were at the top the night light would be upside down.

[@killhacker5776]

Still works

[@UFO4X]

@@killhacker5776 Of course it still works, but it looks like hell! Lol

[@killhacker5776]

@@UFO4X I feel ya . really do. But that "ground up" is for safety . it really shouldn't matter which way it's plugged in so just grind off the fat ended .

[@petecarroll3949]

Sounds like you got yourself a bunch of Australian nite lites

[@SuperClarenceZ]

If I put them all in upside down, my wife can’t put those scentsy burners all over the damn place. Brilliant!

[@nTrudrVA65]

Hey, ground down has a smiley face ... it’s just happier

[@DaveLeCompte]

Ground-down has a safety argument I was expecting you to present - if the top half of your plug comes out, with ground-up, you have an ungrounded plug, which people will use unsafely. With ground-down, you have a disconnection, which you will fix immediately. This seems like a much more likely scenario than people dropping screwdrivers or butter knives along the wall.

[@TitoRigatoni]

3:02 the ground pin is longer than the other two, for this reason. there is no way for the ground pin to come out before the power pins come out.

[@huejanus5505]

What about all the sheet metal pieces people store in their houses along the walls? Anyways, just looked around my house quickly and the vast majority of things that are plugged in don’t even have a ground on them, except or two power bars that are designed with ground down plugs on them.

[@JyroOne]

This was a rule before plastic covers were used. It was installed this way for appliance dedicated outlets that had a grounded plug. If a metal cover came off and yes they did come off it prevented it from contacting the hot and neutral.

[@dicesr]

In many commercial installations such as an office environment, it is very common for a paper clip, or staple to fall off of the edge of a desk. The staple/clip could fall onto the blades of an inuse outlet with a cord-cap partially removed. If the outlet is installed ground down the clip could easily cause a short across the hot & neutral blades. Ground up it would simply roll off the blade and continue safely to the floor with no problem, and go completely unnoticed until someone walks around barefoot. Also, most medical facilities will use the ground up installation method for the same reason.

[@ATAVMJPRO]

Thank you Dave,.. I didn't know why ground down was better until I read your comment!👌

[@n8loux]

Having ground up just always feels wrong to me... like putting the toilet paper roll on backwards

[@sleazybtd]

Since you went there, which way is technically "backwards" on a toilet paper roll?

[@n8loux]

@@sleazybtd on the holder so it comes down the back near the wall, instead of over the top and down the front lol just ask Hank Hill

[@The-Friendly-Grizzly]

@@sleazybtd If you are a regular household: paper end over the top of the roll. If you have cats, paper end out the bottom. Why: cats slapping at the roll to make it spin will roll paper out on the floor the “regular” way. Rolled out the bottom, they can paw at it and spin the roll, and the paper stays put.

[@adamlewellen5081]

Pointless debate of the day. It's like red on right. A unofficial rule that helps if followed but not "required"

[@nate-vv1rr]

@@sleazybtd Over the top to the front, so you do not have to do the pickle claw to reach it in the back,lol..

[@dshingle6]

All I know for is whenever I use a Klein outlet tester I can’t see the lights when the outlets have the ground up!

[@soaringvulture]

That's the exact reason I got one with lights on the end.

[@georgedavall9449]

Lol, great point David 😁😂

[@Ron-oe7hg]

Sounds like you need a noncontact tester.

[@notsure7874]

@@Ron-oe7hg That doesn't verify polarity, ground, or test GFI's, but yeah, I love a prox tester! Everyone should have one!

[@gr8fuldaniel]

Newer ones have wrap around lens. I have a couple of older ones with that problem. Need a mirror to see lights

[@brianboychuk3712]

I've always installed plugs with the ground on the bottom. Most plugs are designed for that configuration, especially the low-profile plugs. They are all oriented so the wire immediately proceeds in a downward manner. I don't buy the safety issue, as it is a rare three-prong plug that DOESN'T fit snuggly. I should mention that I am from Canada and I've heard that in the province of Quebec, they prefer the ground to be in the upward position. Even knowing this, when I renovated my home in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec, I insisted that all the plugs be installed with the ground down. I think Quebec is bucking the norm because, well, basically, that's what they love to do. If English Canada does something one way, they want exactly the opposite . . . just because. I hear they're thinking of changing the driving lanes to the opposite side, like the U.K. - just because. I'm kidding, of course . . . but just imagine the chaos when crossing the border between provinces. Ha-ha!

[@flagmichael]

It could be argued that ground up makes stresses in the cord where it leaves the outlet greatest in the ground wire, making an open ground the most likely cord failure mode. I've never known that to happen, though, and I will be 70 next month.

[@UnpimpYourAuto]

At least from what I've seen in Arizona, all of our outlets are ground down EXCEPT for outlets controlled by a wall switch. Those outlets are ground up so that it's easier to tell which outlet to plug your lamps into.

[@A3Kr0n]

When I was in school for electronics I was taught the ground goes down because the plug could come loose and with the ground down it will be the last connection to disconnect. With ground up and loosening condition will disconnect the ground first giving you a potentially dangerous false sense of security.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nice, that is a good point I had not heard before. Appreciate you sharing 👍

[@godtremble95]

I've also heard something similar, but about how people tend to pull plugs out; generally towards themselves (out and up if the outlet is below, out and down if chest level or higher), though I don't know if it makes much of a difference

[@averagejoerc2836]

From another perspective, your three prong plug comes out/loose more easily with the ground on bottom. As it becomes loose, you now have a hot and neutral exposed. 3 prong plugs with ground on top are more stable and do not come loose as quickly, and if/as they do, the hot and neutral get pushed into the receptacle even further exposing the ground only. In my opinion, if there is any potential of and of the prongs being exposed, I would prefer it be a ground.

[@danbert8]

I don't buy that argument as it's solved with the longer ground pin. Even at a tilted angle the ground should still lose connection last.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

@@danbert8 An exposed ground doesn’t matter if the cord is not in use. But an exposed hot is alway live even if the plug is not being used!

[@scottym3]

I prefer my toilet paper to be put on the roll coming over the top.

[@jimmac1185]

Savages hang TP the other way...

[@Scottocaster6668]

The American way. Its gotta go over

[@juliaraymond2407]

Scottym3 for the win!

[@chrisparker4940]

Ever reel off a massive amount of toilet paper and try spinning it in reverse to roll it back on? I thought you have. It doesn’t work does it.

[@mmercier0921]

The original patent drawring for the roll holder shows otherwise. Like the position of the ground... it doesn't really matter one bit.

[@lianshi3579]

I was an MEP Supervisor in a Hospital. We were required to install all receptacles with the ground up. When I did commercial, industrial, and residential work we installed them ground down. Receptacles were also tested monthly with tension gauges during electrical preventative maintenance. They were replaced if they failed tension testing.

[@dlr71mi]

When I went through school to be an electrician, they taught us to put the ground up, or if the outlet is sideways, face the neutral up. They also said it isn’t a requirement so don’t get bogged down over it if a job wants it the other way.

[@boddieconstruction1493]

This is what I've taught my guys for the last 30 years... A smiley face saying, "Oh, you've done such a good job!", instead of a guy with a bullet hole in the forehead.

[@blackquiver]

Haha😝😛😜

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

Plug is MALE ! Recpt is FEMALE.

[@docferringer]

...why do I get the feeling that your construction company is a front for the mob?

[@boddieconstruction1493]

@@docferringer well, the Hells Angles do live nearby..... lol!

[@boddieconstruction1493]

@@docferringer lol! I guess we could be!!!! I know a guy who knows a guy...

[@ChuckCLJ]

In my opinion, if NEC isn't making a recommendation after this many years, there must be a consensus among the rule makers that it truly doesn't matter and there is no significant safety reason to pick one option over the other.

[@returntonature8773]

59 years and never seen anything fall on an outlet and short out.

[@donsvideos1985]

@@returntonature8773 you never met my kid when he was 5... long story.

[@buffalogatekeeper5554]

@Charles, or it could simply be a scenario where half of the members want up and the other half want down, each with advantages and disadvantages, and no consensus is possible in this scenario.

[@1djbecker]

@@returntonature8773 The real risk is with metal cover plates on duplex outlets. Old fashioned attachments used the center screw for the ground or support, resulting it being loose or missing. When the metal plate drops, excitement or disaster. This problem doesn't occur with Decora style receptacles or simply using a plastic cover plate. Once you eliminate that risk, the very slight improvement in safety is overwhelmed by the significant decrease in safety from plugging equipment in upside-down. Every wall brick and GFCI plug expects a happy face orientation.

[@thepitpatrol]

Isn't that the truth!

[@garyhofer8460]

I always try to be deliberate in details when wiring. I am adopting "Scott's Code" henceforth for outlet orientation. This is why I appreciate your videos; good, clear detailed thought process keeps errors and do-overs at a minimum, and safety at max.

[@TerrySmith1953]

I had heard that ground up was the intention because the ground pin gave better mechanical support to the cable. Having said that, every home I've owned in Canada has had all outlets with ground down.

[@davidgates1122]

57 years on this earth . . . Never had a metal object fall on a plug.

[@donzon353]

Just cuz you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's never happened.

[@james10739]

Same except 32

[@james10739]

@@donzon353 well ya but how can you live your life with that point of view I mean I ha e never been kidnapped and raped for weeks then murdered but it could happen

[@dilvishpa5776]

Same here. This is the most ridiculous argument ever. The main problem I have is that so many cord plugs are designed for ground down.

[@charlespatt]

Ha ha, after 65 years, I have seen many many outlets with metal wall plates with loose screws- quite dangerous actually when something is plugged in. (Although I still prefer ground-down)

[@kraggman]

I installed every outlet in my house ground down. Just seems more natural and I think aesthetically looks better.

[@tonycosta3302]

In my house, they are installed horizontally in the baseboards. I prefer the ground on the bottom when they are installed vertically. It works better with cords that have a profile plugs. If your plugs are falling, the outlet should be replaced.

[@curtishenline7620]

Thanks for your channel, very educational . One thing I would like to point out. Homes built in the late 60's and 70's had one receptacle with the ground up. This was because they normally didn't have overhead lighting in tract homes and that outlet was the switched one for a lamp.

[@Eric-xj4qj]

I like ground down cause it looks like a “woah” smiley face.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

😮

[@kenmore01]

I was gonna say, the eyes should be above the little mouth. 😃

[@tallokie67]

I think it's called Pareidolia, seeing faces on inanimate objects. Maybe unconsciously that's why many prefer ground down.

[@Eric-xj4qj]

Clearly great minds think alike.

[@modularmuse]

I agree: I remember seeing that face on the outlets as a kid and I associated it as 'beware'.

[@HaroldSink]

I was trained by my grandfather who was a master carpenter and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Altus, Oklahoma. He told me that ground should always be down as part of a safety issue - keeping the cord from coming out of the socket. He also explained that if the outlet will not hold the plug of whatever you are plugging in, that either the outlet is old and needs to be replaced, or the plug does not meet up to code for that particular outlet and to replace the plug. He was a very smart man.

[@RideCamVids]

Ground facing down adds more support to the plug itself of vertically mounted receptacles. However its a totally mute point for receptacles mounted horizontally.

[@rhoonah5849]

I worked in a soda factory for a while as a maintenance mechanic and the plant electrician taught me to go ground down for most residential situations but ground UP for commercial situations when the outlet faceplate was metal for the reasons mentioned at 3:30 in this video. It seemed like an unlikely scenario even when he explained it to me 30 years ago and it still does. I haven't done any commercial wiring since then but I always go ground down in my home.

[@nealkeach4367]

My father was an electrician at Corning Glass Works for 40+ years. His motto regarding this was always: “ Ground down or to the right “.

[@jmdavison62]

@@nealkeach4367 It's hard to take such a maxim seriously without hearing the reasons behind it. If anything, hospitals have a compelling reason for the ground pin to be on top, and if it's good enough for the hospital, it's good enough for your home.

[@jcnunny]

When I was a new home sales person for a national builder, the ground up plug indicated it was controlled by a light switch in that particular room. Helped you quickly identify where to plug in your lamps.

[@trouble4076]

Yup. That's how we install them for half hots. 👍🏽

[@BlueFlyer83]

Same in my house. The only other time I install switches ground up is for facilities that have them all installed ground up.

[@ScottGrammer]

Where I grew up, a ground up plug indicated that you needed a new electrician who didn't come to work high.

[@jcagy2]

If you live in a house and don't remember what each receptacle is for, your senile!

[@acbone710]

@@jcagy2 or you're like me and just moved into a house and nothing is labeled. I have 5 switches that don't do anything as far as I can tell. They also repurposed a switch when they added outdoor lights, so the half hots in the living room are just always dead. So, ya, it would have been nice to have little indicators like this.

[@jamesdennis7509]

Will have to ask my wife. She always knows. I prefer down.

[@tman3399]

Ask a teenager. They know everything 😒

[@lucioglez3768]

@@tman3399 .

[@eddiemanning3113]

@@lucioglez3768 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!aaqq!×

[@imwrongbutlisten]

said sideways Jimmy!

[@jwick4320]

Golden rule, ask the wife!! If mamas not happy, nobody's happy!!

[@tjohnson4062]

I'd say since the writing on a GFCI outlet is oriented with ground down, that would be the most logical for any outlet.

[@xxxmikeyjock]

so the Eaton tr7755 plugs I installed today the writing on the face would have the ground up.

[@JeffreyGVny]

A GFCI has that short-circuiting safety built in, so that logic would not apply.

[@flagmichael]

@@JeffreyGVny The logic wasn't about fault protection.

[@cperez1263]

Yes. My first inclination would be to get rid of all the hideous 1970s wood paneling from the walls behind, and then follow your great advice, ground facing up. Thanks for sharing this video. You're awesome.

[@Cecil.]

When ground is up, just the weight of the cord will, over time start to pull plug out. With ground down the ground actually provides a base for plug that keeps the cord from pulling out. Particularly with heavier cords.

[@darryll13]

As an electrician.. that comment is the dumbest thing i have heard .. ground down keeps the cord in tight.. unless your plug is 5 feet off the ground and the cord is heavy and even then plugs dont pop out like that.. how about you choose a plug and use the heaviest cord you can find and observe and take a picture every day for comparison .. you are going to be doing that for a long time.. no science in your statement

[@ranger178]

i believe exactly the opposite is true the best grip is on the ground plug and it makes contact first and i have seen first hand a piece of aluminum foil on a kitchen counter short out across the hot and neutral with ground down so it is much safer

[@theredrover3217]

@@darryll13 replying due to the dumbest thing ever heard - that seems unnecessarily rude. ☹️ The outlet he was demonstrating on was very loose, why he was replacing it. It clearly looked very very loose me. I see heavy extension cord plugs sagging and on occasion that is the answer to why doesn't this Outlet work.

[@pXnEmerica]

@@darryll13 Any 70-80s wall wart that had a ground usually had a huge heavy transformer, I could totally see this argument through those years.

[@jcagy2]

If the recpt. is that loose than replace it!

[@chrisforker7487]

Our last home had ground up, very, very annoying. Finally fixed all of them.

[@LectronCircuits]

Regarding proper outlet orientation, you are very well grounded. Cheers!

[@rubencohen2936]

Has anyone ever seen the box installed sideways ?

[@jimkoval8546]

@@rubencohen2936 Yes. Usually in older homes where the outlets are in the baseboard.

[@wlkilmer]

@@rubencohen2936 Yes, the first home I owned had plaster walls with wood lath and all the outlets mounted ‘sideways’.

[@alannix5144]

In a newer home I had, some outlets were ground up and most were ground down. I found that the ground up outlets were the outlets that were controlled by a light switch by the door. This allowed a lamp to be plugged into the ground up outlets and turned on or off at the light switch.

[@kerrydavis4290]

At my place I bought 2 years ago, the outlets that are ground-up indicate that they are separate 20-amp circuits each with an independent circuit breaker. That's an easy way to identify those circuits without using the outlets that have the T/sideways blade slot for specific 20-amp plugs.

[@leprechaunbutreallyjustamidget]

Why would you want 20 amp outlets with out the ability to plug in 20 amp appliances

[@lesbsocal9107]

Ground down is definitely the best bc it makes the outlet look like a surprised face.

[@mikem.3296]

Huh?

[@dougiefresh9618]

Yep and your kids will play with it.

[@x2malandy]

@@dougiefresh9618 Well then they will learn a valuable lesson.

[@x2malandy]

That is what I was thinking all along. Down, so I can see all the faces. Especially when sitting on the toilet looking at stuff.

[@NotRJPrince]

obviously

[@viking-vise9255]

When I was taught back in the early 70's it was taught to us to have the ground lug down so if the cord sags and hangs down, the ground lug would be the last one to pull out.

[@billwesolowski2609]

This is exactly correct, 40 years as an electrician, you want your ground the last to pull out thus ground down always.

[@fire5506]

That is because the ground is protect the plugged in equipment, not to protect the plug.

[@bentalley7277]

TRUE GROUND SHOULD BE FIRST TO MAKE LAST TO BREAK

[@CeeJayThe13th]

Then the standard should have them much longer and not almost the same.

[@mikeremote8595]

The ground lug is longer for this reason.

[@justincase7822]

Interesting information! Thank you for making this video. Some time back I purchased some Christmas bubble light night lights. They required the reciprocal to be installed the the ground pointing down for the bubble effect to work.

[@stevepepple6683]

Yes, lots of things do!

[@chrismitchell6478]

I've always installed ground down. I'm not an electrician but have been doing electrical work around the house since I was 13, I'm now in my late 30s. I also like the idea of using ground up to signal switched outlet.

[@michaelsallee7534]

40 years ago. I had a professor teaching factors of safety. he gave an interesting method that he deemed correct: "you want a smiley face, not a frowny face"

[@glenmartin2437]

I have been working on electrical wiring about 65 years. I usually go ground down with the 3-pronged plugs. I have never dropped a tool or any other metal item across the hot and neutral leads. It is better to go ground down for most plugs to reduce stress on the wiring, since most 3-prong plugs are set up for ground down. We had a number of plugs that are ground up in our home. A few I have changed to ground down. I hope the NEC continues to allow the option of ground up, down or sideways. I have a box of new electrical parts. If I find a loose duplex receptacle, I replace it. That is a matter of safety. Thank you for your video.

[@davidzamorano3339]

I believe in 2011 NEC it said in commercial applications ground was up but in the 2015 they took it off

[@AnAmericanFan]

This is an ongoing argument. I find that ground up secures the plug better since the ground pin tends to be more snug and less likely to rock like the two spades tend to do which in my experience tend to sag more often when ground is down.

[@donswank6920]

plugs are male connectors, receptacles are female

[@stevieg.4816]

@@davidzamorano3339 Your wrong it's never been in there. want me to send you my 2011 code book. I have code books all the way to 76, it's never been in the code.

[@UpnorthHere]

@@stevieg.4816 There are probably numerous NFPA 70 examples of "public input" regarding this topic that didn't make it into the first draft. It might be interesting to see the reasons for and against such nonsense.

[@frederickryan6779]

I definitely prefer ground down. This is mainly because I have found that the little bit of plastic between the ground hole and the edge of the receptacle can easily crack. When a receptacle is mounted low on a wall it's natural to insert, or remove, a plug at a bit of an upward angle. It doesn't take much pressure to crack that little bit of plastic. Also, ground, or earth, is down, so it's just intuitive.

[@pitnum]

I have the same problem. All my outlets were installed with ground up and they are all broken at the top and it stresses the cords being bent over backwards. I definitely prefer ground plug down.

[@Eleknor]

For DIY I have always done ground-down. During a recent remodel at a state-run facility, I asked one of the facility maintenance techs why the sockets were all "flipped over" to ground-up. He said he thought it was code in case of flooding. Given our proximity to a major river, it makes sense there would be a code specification for that. However, it seems to me that, if flood waters reached only one part of a socket, you would want it to be the ground and not the hot/neutral sockets. If the flood waters got much higher, it wouldn't really matter either way.

[@censusgary]

Wait, somebody thinks if there’s a flood, maybe 1/4 inch of height is going to matter?

[@Eleknor]

@@censusgary Given how some state and city bureaucracies work, probably.

[@RedSnapper34]

@@censusgary That's what I was thinking. The power should be shut off long before the waters rise to the level of the sockets. Just walking around in it would create waves that would splash over the sockets.

[@davidobrien511]

It's a 1/4 inch on the outside but behind the face plate It's about an inch difference. As water rises it would touch ground first then hot. Hopefully tripping the breaker before shocking someone.

[@davidaugeri292]

When I wired my new house back in the 80's I failed the electrical final inspection because I installed my plugs with the ground down. The state required them to be installed ground up ( they have since deleted the requirement for ground up). After I passed the inspection, I went and changed them all to ground facing down

[@user-xh1kz7rm4j]

I have always seen this in the south. Do you live in a southern state?

[@Dukerdr]

@@user-xh1kz7rm4j Might be. When I moved 20 years ago to a house down in rural TN, one of the first things I did was go around and swap all the outlets to "ground down", due to 90 degree male cord ends on so many appliances.

[@humphrey28078]

@@user-xh1kz7rm4j I live in a southern state and every house I have been in have been ground facing down; and the houses range in age from brand new to very old.

[@henrydycha3738]

Ground up by code.

[@humphrey28078]

@@henrydycha3738 Ground up is not "code"

[@buttersstotch6752]

Does the orientation of the outlet in a bathroom effect the roll direction of the toilet paper?

[@butchs.4239]

The deciding factor in roll orientation is whether the household has pets.

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

The NTPC (National Toilet Paper Code) clearly states that underhand is proper code in any and all states and scenarios. This is per the NTPC chapter 3 section 6 subsection 2.4b

[@trailrider0194]

Of course, especially if you want your toilet to flush right.

[@gravelydon7072]

@@Soxruleyanksdrool You must be reading an outdated version. Current one says off of the top. ;-)

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

No, it doesn't say over the top because I wrote it. And I didn't base the code on popular opinion. I based it on which way is clearly better by all logical accounts. That's why underhand is proper code. What you read was apparently some cut rate knockoff written by someone who obviously can't accept the fact that underhand is better. Hope this info reaches you before it's too late. Lol.

[@mariot6959]

Very interesting, Thank You

[@_JimS]

A auto tech school I worked at had all ground "UP" throughout the school. We asked the original electricians that wired the school at new and their response was because of the possibility of something metal falling on the plug, as you talked about at first. I'm thinking he said it was a State code for "Schools".

[@moto_MO]

the "upside down" outlets in my home identify any switched outlets to make life easy.

[@NitePHX]

Same here. My house in Ohio and my house in Arizona both have ground down unless that outlet is controlled by a wall switch then the switched outlet is identified by being installed ground up.

[@joelvarney5091]

I find this very interesting

[@redstang5150]

Not a bad idea. Label maker works too.

[@usp211816]

This seems to be a thing some installers do, I've seen it in FL too.

[@gordondeitz7838]

I went and looked an my place is the same. I had thought it was all of them. Tks for the heads up.

[@americanrambler4972]

Never paid attention to this before. Just did a walk around and all the outlets I looked at were oriented with the ground down. I always thought the were arranged that way to help hold the plug into the socket by providing support for the weight of the cord pulling down on the plug.

[@trenvan5546]

Interesting idea.. I wonder if european or british outlets have the ground up or down. or we could be like the japanese and have them all on a switch

[@williampockoski5029]

I started ground up in 1976, your arguments for is what was told me at that time.

[@skylarsharpe179]

I'm a carpenter\framer so I see it a lot on some jobs I do but my grandfather (old-school electrician) taught me ground down but after dealing with the electrical chaos from a dropped nail punch onto a loose outlet during a remodel of my newer home (lived there 5-6 yrs remodled 2or 3 years ago) that caused a massive short (due to overall improper wiring and grounding through out the house, so thinking about it now I'm luck it happened when it did and not later mainly for safety reasons) I started to pick up the ground up method seeing it done on other jobs and learning that's the exact thing its meant to help prevent

[@terrypen]

We bought a house in Arizona that all outlets were ground down, EXCEPT the receptacle attached to a switch to turn on one receptacle. Like you mentioned at the end! haha

[@donhurst8459]

Must of been installed by Mexicans

[@D13fs]

@@donhurst8459 Must of? Try must have or must've, lol.

[@bmwmike3534]

@@donhurst8459 Thats how all new homes are built near me now here in s. Florida. Im talking 600k+ homes and all the switched outlets are upside down. Looks so stupid to me

[@teamja1088]

Working in NYC, we always installed receptacles ground up for the reason given in the video. It will prevent an arc flash or fire if something falls onto a plug and the breaker fails to trip. I always thought that was actual code until I escaped the people’s republic of NY and found that everybody where I live now are odded out when they see ground up. I read up and found an article in a psychological mag that pointed out people like ground down because it resembles a face and faces make people happy. Just my experience with this topic.

[@philnelson2364]

The other consideration is that many electronic devices have heavy transformers designed for ground down or they tend to pull out of the wall. If a plug pulls out of a wall and you don't want a metal object hitting the two pins, it's high time to replace the socket anyways.

[@leecowell8165]

that's a good point, Phil. If the transformer was installed ground up it would have a tendency to fall out with time.

[@joelboutier1736]

heavy transformers usually have a mounting screw that installs in place of the wall plate screw to hold it in place regardless of the ground orientation.

[@micheleevans8179]

Very informative videos. I’m looking for information on, not sunken, but protruding outlets. Any ideas on this?

[@CJICantLie]

Would love it if they made receptacles with ground up on top and ground down on the bottom. With so many 90 degree plugs and wall warts out there, it would be incredibly useful.

[@777rogerf]

That's a great idea!

[@UpnorthHere]

Then you'd have hot and neutral on opposite sides from the top and bottom receptacles, creating other design and installation consequences.

[@bwats1991]

@@UpnorthHere I think they mean dual grounds so it can be plugged in either way.

[@ksman9087]

That would not work because the neutral prong is wider than the hot prong. This is called a polarized plug. If there were holes for ground prongs both above and below there would always be one way that would be impossible to plug in.

[@CJICantLie]

@@ksman9087Was thinking it would be just upside down for the top plug. Like so: G LN NL G

[@maguyver]

If you are using a grounded plug you will notice that the "ground" pin is always slightly longer. The reason for this is to make sure that the ground pin always makes contact with ground first while inserting the plug and is always the last pin to disconnect to while removing the plug. This ensures that you as the user are always protected from you accidentally being the ground yourself and getting a shock, if there is a faulty cord. That being said however, the receptacles need to be properly connected to a good ground internally. Therefore, it really does not matter which way the receptacle is facing because it is impossible to make contact with Hot or Neutral before the ground when inserting, or losing contact with ground before the hot or neutral when removing. I think that's how NEC gets away from actually making it code to have them installed in a particular configuration. I do understand that this does nothing for the 2 prong plugs, but then that's another discussion of why Arc Fault and GFC's or GFCI's are great things to use.

[@BradCooperCCF]

With the ground pin up, I have actually seen the ground pin pull out and lose contact causing an "open ground" connection due to the leverage of the cord. I've seen it quite regularly actually in the work environment in which I inspect.

[@bjsackett]

The last time I worked as a journeyman electrician (the ‘80s) for pay, it was in Canada. The CEC, which follows the NEC for the most part, had an Appendix then which illustrated the different receptacle configurations for different voltages and amperages. The 120V/15A receptacle was drawn ground up. (No explanation was given for the orientation.) I’m reasonably sure that copies of the NEC from that time period would have something similar. That said, no one on any commercial, industrial or utility job I was on, installed them that way. And no engineer/architect called for them. I don’t know if current issues of the CEC still have that Appendix, although it sounds like the current NEC doesn’t. Personally, I go with the flow. If I’m working on an existing place, I’ll install new/replacement receptacles the way the rest of them are. No biggie. Also, for what it’s worth, in a brand new, fancy, house I helped wire for my daughter a year ago, all receptacles were turned on their sides.

[@RonBarnhart]

That's good to know because I've always thought ground up installs were just incorrect. I didn't know that there was some actual logic behind doing it. I prefer the down version because it just looks aesthetically better to me (maybe because that's just how I've always seen outlets throughout my life). As some other people have mentioned, it seems like it really doesn't matter since they both work. In particular, I liked the part in the video that talked about using ground up for outlets that went to a switch (I've never noticed if that was the case when I've encountered them in the past). I've seen plenty that went to a switch that were ground down. Thanks for the info

[@sgoell75]

same here I agree

[@johnmorriss5308]

The human brain is hard-wired (so to speak) to recognize and and be attracted to other faces. Ground down looks like a little (surprised?) face.

[@Blasthoff]

I just addressed this on a different thread. Let me first comment that what is most common (ground down) all too often is the most influential factor, but not necessarily "the best". Let me explain. I welcome the opportunity to give my own two cents concerning one detail. While it is most common to see recepts oriented ground side down, "A LIFETIME (more than 60 years!!) OF USER EXPERIENCE" has taught me the opposite to be the most functionally advantageous in TWO ways! #1 it is MUCH easier to align a plug for insertion with the ground prong on top, especially in poor light! #2 and most important, heavier cords remain fully inserted MUCH better with the ground prong on top!! This is especially true with recepts that are no longer "brand new". I'll stand by that the rest of my years!!!

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

Your explanation is exactly how I learned it over 40 yrs ago. I always went ground down unless it was specified otherwise.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

simply put Earth points to Earth.

[@TomPauls007]

When I re-wired our last house, I did ground down inside. In garage it was ground up for safety. If something like a metal ruler or piece of metal fell, it would hit the ground prong and not make a short.

[@siriustraining1774]

Spot on for the 'switched' receptacal outlet ground up!

[@danhambrick6331]

When I started my Electrician career back in 1993,the Journeyman that I worked under installed the outlet ground Down.That is how I have installed them since....

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

I prefer a face looking at me from my outlets.

[@jdunk6058]

Yes, a slightly bummed-out looking face.

[@TheManion123]

Yes! you have to see the face, all the outlets in my condo are upside down, they all need replaced so Ill fix them all anyway.

[@chriscase6341]

Lol

[@fitybux4664]

That is the face you make when you see the home's price / mortgage payment price. ":-O"

[@sleazybtd]

Since it's electrical, it's a requirement that it should look like a shocked Pikachu face.

[@zekejones7259]

It really comes down to preference and circumstance. I've used both ways and even put receptacles sideways with neutral side up

[@cecillec2331]

Thank you.

[@ricktrent275]

I'm used to it being down, but I like the idea of using it as an identification tool for light controlled switch.

[@scottsatterthwaite4073]

You know what works better? Putting a "Switched" tag on the cover.

[@Chris-wp3ew]

I just think the outlets look "normal" with ground down...

[@pheresy1367]

I agree..... because they look like a "little face"

[@stephenpetersen354]

Resultant of Utility and other marketing.

[@doujinflip]

That's just our familiarity. Britain and its former colonies practically always have ground-up sockets, side-by-side, serving 90° plugs 🔌

[@davidstelly6262]

Although the orientation is not specifically identified in the NEC, it is a NEMA standard for the ground prong to be at the top when installed in a vertical orientation. When installed horizontally, NEMA standards say the ground should be to the left (neutral prong on top).

[@juniorthewvrebel]

that what i learned when i took my electrical classses and it was in the nec either 2002 or 2005 i had both

[@juniorthewvrebel]

thats what i learned in my electrical classes it was in the NEC either the 2002 or 2005 edition i have both

[@KeffelewAssefa]

Thank you

[@billiebible4700]

Ground down is the proper orientation for my Kill A Watt meter and my outlet tester.

[@rbottomley]

In my house, ground up means the outlet is controlled by the wall switch.

[@jimpie231]

Today most electricians mark switched outlets, with a magic marker black dot in between the blades on the outlet. Jim

[@tonysid3563]

Every building I've ever been in that has had a ground up in any room was because that receptacle was wired to a switch.

[@JohnnyC10071959]

Ground up means switched in my houses

[@ManNomad]

Never heard that or seen a mix before. I learned something new today.

[@SagePatrynXX]

wish that were the case but in ours the top outlet is the wall switch the bottom is not... so then that would be a ground up ground down combo??

[@BobbyCranky1]

As I recall when I was in the trade back in the sixties these were called "U ground receptacles". Since in the up orientation it looked like a U that's how I always installed them, unless there was a good reason to go down. Also I think that when the makers marked them up they were thinking of the "U ground"

[@rick5908]

My experience with taking over a spec home after drywall. All of the bedrooms had no overhead lights, all switched outlets, and I immediately put in a change order for overhead lights. I was there when the electrician was installing the fixtures and I noticed he'd pulled the receptacles (most) and I asked why, forgetting he'd have to because they were separated, and he pointed that out but also mention he'd change the orientation to ground down. He explained they always place switched as ground up and always made the top outlet the switched outlet so the home owner could easily tell which outlets were switched and which was one switched. The builder also pointed this out during walk through as I had 3 switched outlets in the family room with a vaulted ceiling.

[@keithmorris3834]

Put it the way you wish. I'm almost 40 years in industry, taught by someone who taught Edison. His saying was, if you have to bend down. Ground down. If you can stand up to pull the plug, ground up. Humans have a bad habit of not pulling cords out straight. Usually bending the ground prong and breaking them off when they are ground prong up when the are low pluggins

[@jimmac1185]

Where there three prong receptacles when Edison was around?

[@UpnorthHere]

@@jimmac1185 Yes, they were around well before his 1931 death.

[@hyseize]

The advice I once received was that for residential - ground down, for industrial - ground up. I liked your take on being able to distinguish between switched & unswitched.

[@ralphfolden3273]

I am a lifelong diver and I do it the way you do it. This subject was an issue me in my early years. My reasoning is very much like yours.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback

[@igounfazed]

It has never crossed my mind that there may be a safety reason for having the ground pin up. It seems really sensible for it as well. I will definitely keep that in mind when I plan my next build.

[@ElectroDFW]

I'm sure it does happen once in a blue moon, but the rarity of metal bits falling directly on a partially exposed plug makes it seems like a bit of an overreaction to call for an install of all grounds up. Especially when there exists thousands of devices with only two prongs where ground up wouldn't help, and hundreds and hundreds more devices designed to be used in ground down outlets.

[@danlikins]

I've read the comments and it would appear that most viewers prefer GROUND Down. I'm 70 yrs old and am a traditionalist, so I also prefer Ground Down. But I don't believe it's the ground pin that should be the issue but rather - Neutral (White) on the left and Hot (Black) on the right. The issue is polarized plugs on things like wall warts, night lights and right angle molded plugs. All are designed with the wider blade on the left when properly oriented. Don't fight established convention.

[@chrisboyd4433]

We have this problem at the hospital. The commercial electricians in Facilities install ground up. Most of our equipment has low profile plugs that are ground down, so we end up with cords that are oriented up the wall instead of hanging down. In my opinion, this causes a dangerous condition because of the extreme curve it forces into the cords.

[@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965]

Im 30(1991), my dad is 55(1967) and my grandpa is dead but would have been 85(1933)... The house I live in has been handed down from grandpa to dad to me... The house was built in 1967 same yr as my dad was born. I just looked and ALL of my plugs are 3rd hole facing up... Idk why but they are...

[@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965]

@@alainchristian oh okay I got ya...

[@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965]

@@alainchristian I actually lived in a HUGE OLD house that was built in the late 1800's. The house was converted into apartments in the 1940's. Also the same time the first electric was installed into the building. Anyways, I remember the outlets where actually IN THE FLOOR! I shit you not! At first I couldn't find them because the carpet had them completely covered up!. I had to cut holes in the carpet to get access to the plugs. I had never seen anything like that. Haven't seen anything like it since either 😆 Pretty interesting tho..

[@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965]

@@alainchristian That makes sense. But Have you seen them like that in a residence?

[@manflaco]

Here in Puerto Rico, 90% of wall outlets are oriented horizontally. I this case, we put the ground to the right. The logic behind this is that if weight/gravity acts on the cord, the live side of the prong will be disconnected first. On the other hand, any outlet that is oriented vertically, we put the ground down so that if weight/gravity acts on the cord, ground is the last prong to be disconnected, preserving safety to the user. The odds of something perfectly catching the live/neutral prongs on the cords are very low!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Interesting 🤔 Thanks for the insight from Puerto Rico. I am a bit jealous of your weather this time of year while living in the Midwest.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

But exposing the hot and neutral is risky for children!

[@jbs8659]

Good to know

[@manflaco]

@@howtodoitdude1662 if you have children, the only safe thing is to use outlet slot insert cover.

[@mtgibbs]

Same in Chicago!

[@vpgdarkstar]

I was always taught that in basements, garages, workshops, etc. that the grounds should be put facing up for the reasons outlined in the video. If a piece of metal or tool falls on a slightly-exposed plug it will hit the ground and not short the hot and neutral. I've also seen that the grounds should be put facing up for outlets controlled by a switch in normal living spaces, mostly for clarity haha

[@hippo-potamus]

Great points.

[@skimark8275]

When I put the ground up my TV screen displays upside down and my drill runs backwards.

[@ridinglacs]

Lmao

[@user-wh4zm8rb5e]

Too damn funny!!😢

[@misplacedyankee6489]

The GFI outlets in my house have the ground facing down so this is the way we have installed/reinstalled the others throughout the house. And then I heard what you said about switched outlets... genius...

[@isaacgoren542]

ok , I didint read 5000 coments on this , but as an electrical contractor from california I installed quit a few of this in the last 40 years. you are right about you explnation regardind ground prone on top or butom . the only time we put grond on top is in hospitals .for the resone you mention.residential, comercial and industrial ground prone on the boutom.

[@davidharris8171]

Ground down is easiest to insert. The ground prong is longer and can be visibly inserted, then your eyes can follow the flats into the plug.

[@CarnivoreRonin]

When I'm doing commercial, like hospitals, we use metal faceplates. I always install those ground up because the faceplate can come loose. If a metal plate drops, it hits the ground. I've actually seen a plate weld because one was done ground facing down but that was close to 30 years ago. I install 20 amp ground up in residential such as garages just because that's how I was taught. Same thing for switched receptacles. 8-)

[@petecarroll3949]

Me personally I prefer ground up

[@ArcadeMadeLiveToLaughAndLoveJB]

There it is,. Someone did mention it.

[@garyvcole]

If the plate loosens and falls down it trips the breaker, so no safety issue. Ground is always on the BOTTOM

[@Timothy003L]

@@garyvcole What if the thing plugged into the outlet is keeping you alive?

[@garyvcole]

@@Timothy003L If it's that important it should be on a UPS.

[@rabidsamfan]

I like the wood paneling.

[@nimrodery]

The very first page of Leviton's catalog has ground down. And as soon as you get to the outlets, they're shown both ways.

[@CiscoWes]

Some appliances have the cord where they angle down, so if you plug them into an “upside down” outlet, the wire goes up in a big loop and then down, instead of neatly close to the wall with a normal outlet.

[@lovefreebee]

ground facing down for me is much easy to plug it in the outlet than facing up; it looks more appealing as well...

[@njphil1279]

What happens when you mount the outlet sideways? Should the ground be on the right or left?

[@mikescott58]

I was told on these the neutral blade down

[@Millersville44]

Neutral side should be up if you follow the theory that a metal object can contact the blade.

[@njphil1279]

@@Millersville44 I was just trolling for a response, but that actually makes sense...thanks

[@kenlovan3931]

Back in the day, when I worked as a Leadman Yacht Electrician, for Atlantic Yachts, I installed outlets with the ground up, because the ground pin is longer than the blades, and the plug held them more securely in the outlet. If the plug sagged, the blades were forced into the outlet. When the outlet ground was down, the plug had a tendency to sag downward, exposing the hot and neutral. Maybe new outlets were looser in the seventies. I don't know. On occasion, the yacht owner would have me turn the grounds down, which I was happy to do because the customer is always right!

[@d.e.b.b5788]

My dad told me that if the plugs sagged, it's time to replace the receptacle. I've followed that advice for 50 years now.

[@wotysgtb4348]

Definitely more tension with 2 pins than 1 so the theory of the ground up having more tension does not make sense to me just because it's an 1/8" longer.

[@manikmakhijani6736]

Ml

[@manikmakhijani6736]

Thank

[@manikmakhijani6736]

@@wotysgtb4348 u

[@correcthoarsebatterystaple]

I like this reason (copy paste from elsewhere): “The outlet should be oriented with the ground pin down because a person grabbing the outlet will have their index finger at the bottom side of the plug and the index finger sticks out further than the thumb. Having the ground down will keep a person's index finger from touching the live pins.” Mostly because I’ve caught myself putting my index finger on the ground while plugging in