my elecrician put my outlets in the kitchen with 3 prongs...

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Answer by Confused
Submitted on 1/5/2005
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Well, then if NEC thinks the ground hole should be on top, then why do ALL the plugs where the cords that come out at an angle, like a refrigerator, have to loop up and then down when they are plugged into one of these. Also I purchased a plug-in lamp timer, where the plug is on the top of the housing. But when I plug it in the "correct but seemingly upside down outlets" the plug is on the bottom and because of the imbalanced weight differential, the timer falls out of the socket. I never saw these "upside-down" outlets anywhere on the west coast, but moving to St. Louis, I've been told it is the code to install them that way. So, there should be a standard between the installers and the equipment manufacturers.

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Question by Kel
Submitted on 11/4/2003
Related FAQ: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)
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my elecrician put my outlets in the kitchen with 3 prongs with the 1 hole on top, shouldn't the 2 hole be on top and the 1 hole be on the botton

Answer by Jo
Submitted on 11/15/2003
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Plug an appliance in to your outlet...If the wire leading to your appliance comes out at the top of your plug than the outlet is upside-down. United Kingdom outlets are hole on top. some parts of Italy 1 hole is on the bottom.

Answer by Al1
Submitted on 12/30/2003
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If we are talking about the north american 'U' ground, it doesn't matter. Some people like them to look like a face, Other people reason that if the cord isn't quite in all the way and something metallic falls on it, with the ground pin up it will contact that first and therefore be the safer alternative.

Answer by Ernybaghak II
Submitted on 5/14/2004
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NEC recommends ground on top

Answer by johnson
Submitted on 8/25/2004
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ground on top is correct for safety

Answer by louis nefos
Submitted on 5/7/2006
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the switched plug in can be upside down for easy identifacation.

Answer by tim
Submitted on 6/11/2006
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wrong here in the us the one hole (ground)goes down and that is according to the nec(national electrical code)

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