Greetings, Art---'tis been a long time! My home is in California, and it was built in 1991. When I moved in, I noticed that some of the outlets were "ground up" and some were "ground down." Under the assumption that "ground down" was correct, I wanted to "fix" the rest of them, thinking that the electrician simply had been sloppy.
Before taking action, I read the "instruction manual" on the house and discovered that "ground up" indicated that the outlet was "half hot," meaning that one of the pair was switched by a wall switch somewhere in the room. Interesting. I wonder if there is a convention about which one of the pair is "half hot." Cheers, Chuck Mullett Art Michael wrote: > Hello Jim, > > I don't believe the orientation of the U-ground pin is declared anyplace > in the NEC. When I recently approached my local AHJ with this question he > related that it is a matter of custom (locality dependent). In this area, > central Connecticut, the custom is: > > For commercial/industrial applications, U-Ground topmost > For household wiring, U-Ground towards the bottom > > The rationale offered for the U-Ground topmost; if the plug partially > separates from the outlet, anything falling into the opening between the > plug and the outlet will first encounter the grounding pin. (seems to me > that argument holds whether the use is commercial/industrial or > household). > > Re dimensions of the outlet; send me your fax # and I'll fax you the > dimensions. > > Regards, Art Michael > > -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- > | http://www.safetylink.com | > | | > | The Safety Link is the most comprehensive collection | > | of product safety and standards links on the WEB | > | Check our latest offer. | > | | > | | > | Int'l Product Safety News | > | Founded in 1988 | > | | > | P.O.Box 1561 - WWW | > | Middletown CT 06457-8061 U.S.A. | > | Phone: (860) 344-1651 Fax: (860) 346-9066 | > | email: i...@safetylink.com | > -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > On Fri, 19 Jul 2002, Jim Eichner wrote: > > > > > A couple of questions about our standard North American 120Vac socket: > > > > 1. Orientation: We have lots of people in the office here on both sides of > > this one, and I can't find a normative reference in the CEC or the NEC. > > Which is the correct way "up" when installing a socket on a wall - ground > > pin above the L and N blades, or L and N above the ground? What is the code > > reference for this requirement, or is there none? > > > > 2. Dimensions: Can anybody share the spec's for the dimensions, with > > tolerances, of the line, neutral, and ground blades for this configuration? > > I'm sure it's in the UL and CSA standards but I don't want to spend hundreds > > of $ for a one-time question. We have no on-going need for these standards! > > > > Thanks in advance for your help, > > > > Regards, > > Jim Eichner, P.Eng. > > Manager, Engineering Services > > Xantrex Technology Inc. > > Mobile Power > > web: www.xantrex.com <http://www.xantrex.com> > > Any opinions expressed are accidental. 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