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Joined: Nov 2000
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Sparky, I didn't say that I installed the knob and tube, only that my journeyman did. The change over to 3 wire was mostly complete by the time I started in the trade. I don't think there would have been much debate beacuse of the fact that all of the installers at that time would have been trained to put the hot on the right. Don(resqcapt19)
Don(resqcapt19)
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Especially now, I'm reccomending up . I had the luxury of watching fireworks in my own livingroom . I was watching tv one night when a picture I had hung decided to let loose and slide down the wall . Yup , was hung with metal wire and right above a receptacle which was hiding behind my very soft and flammable sofa ,where my lamp was plugged in . When the picture fell it just knocked the plug out enough to expose both prongs and yet still remain energized .The wire from the picture ended up across these live prongs throwing sparks everywhere until it melted away . Choice is yours though . Me , I kinda like my new home just the way it is .
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Had a walk-through safety inspection after an FHA inspector had failed a few things... one on his list was a kitchen receptacle that was ground-up and he didn't like it that way... They didn't notice that it wasn't a GFCI... I ended up looking like the bad guy and haven't heard anything since...
My lesson? As far as grounds up or down... do what the customer wants and if anything happens, the code backs you up. I'd rather get the job than argue with a customer with only opinion to back me up on these matters...
-Virgil Residential/Commercial Inspector 5 Star Inspections Member IAEI
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Straight talk 66'....i've toddeled behind those FHA ( fulla hot air ) guys too. And if they want to buy it, i'll sell it..
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Originally posted by sparky66wv: My old boss liked 'em up. His argument was that if something metal were to strike the plug, dislodging it from the receptacle, the metal would be more likely to touch the ground prong rather than the hot, say a cat knocks a lamp over or something.
In residential, I put them in "ground down" unless the customer wants them up, simply because I've run into problems with things like night-lights, CO2 detectors (plug-in type) and appliance cords (90 degree angle type)that have to be plugged in upside down if the grounds are up.
And, most home-owners like them to look like a face...
In commercial applications, I put the grounds up unless otherwise suggested. Totally agree with you. Just want to add that with 90 degree plugs, they are also more likely to pull out when connected ground up. Wm. Grenier
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Joined: Nov 2000
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The local inspector gives this reason for grounds down...
"...so they'll look like a face..."
I'm not kidding... he was sort of sheepish when he said it too. This was well after my first post above...
-Virgil Residential/Commercial Inspector 5 Star Inspections Member IAEI
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Originally posted by exxon: Especially now, I'm recommending up...a picture I had hung decided to let loose and slide down the wall ...was hung...above a receptacle which was hiding behind my...sofa, where my lamp was plugged in. ...knocked the plug out enough to expose both prongs and yet still remain energized. The wire from the picture ended up across these live prongs throwing sparks everywhere until it melted away... My understanding is that lamp cords are almost always two-wire two prong non-grounding. With the absence of the u-ground, how would ground-up be advantageous in this circumstance? I also feel that shorting across the neutral isn't much different that shorting across the equipment ground...How would this be safer with grounds up?
-Virgil Residential/Commercial Inspector 5 Star Inspections Member IAEI
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Joined: Oct 2000
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'66,
The explanation I've heard is that with the ground prong up there is more chance that something falling on it would be safely deflected (or at least it would have a 50/50 chance of not contacting the ungrounded prong.
I would agree with this in principle, but many plugs are made to plug in with the groung down, and it does look more "normal" that way. I just got back from Kennedy Space Center and all t6he ones I saw "looked like a face".
Bill
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Joined: Feb 2001
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If you step on a cord with a ground prong, ground down will most likely break the ground contact last. I like down, and to the right for horizontal.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Steve, I believe that the Plugs and Receptacles are made that way purposely so that the Ground makes first contact on the way in and last on the way out. It looks to be about 1/8th of an inch longer. I agree with your preference for the ground on the bottom (cosmetically) but not to the right with Horizontal because that would put the Hot prong on top. I would prefer it the other way. Bill
Bill
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