ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Switched Receptacles -Top or Bottom?

Whenever I've installed (or changed out) a switched receptacle I always make the bottom half switched and the top live. Thinking that a lamp would be plugged in the bottom, leaving easy access the top section.
I've often found the top half switched and it seems backwards to me.

That sounds reasonable and I do it too but I am sure someone has the opposite opinion. The code is silent on it.

That sounds like the best way to go.

I'm in agreement. If a lamp is plugged into the bottom switched half, the cord hangs down and the top half is easily accessible for non-switched access.

My 1967 home had the switched outlet on top. I changed them all over to the bottom. And always install customer switched outlets on the bottom.

Every house I ever bought had both halves of the duplex switched. It wasn't until I started wiring them myself that I had "half hots".