0
Are you asking about a standard USA 120 Volt domestic wall socket containing a pair of outlets, where one outlet is positioned below the other one but looks upside down? If so, here goes:
Each pair of socket outlets is made like this: a springy brass contact strip is fitted underneath the top outlet's left hole to connect it to the bottom outlet's left hole. Another springy brass contact strip is fitted underneath top outlet's right hole to connect it to the bottom outlet's right hole.
One supply wire is connected to the left-hand contact strip and the other supply wire goes to the right hand contact strip.
It doesn't actually matter which outlet hole is the hot and which is the neutral because the system allows you to put in an ungrounded plug either way round.
If there are any ground holes these are positioned above and below each pair of the contacts described above, at the mid-way point. The top outlet's 3 holes then look like one triangle and the bottom outlet's 3 holes look like another triangle that is upside down to the top one!
Another answer
The NEC does not specify what position a duplex receptacle is placed. However, some electrical plans, such as those for hospitals, may call that receptacles be placed with the ground hole facing up. This is to help prevent contact being made with the hot and neutral with something falling on a plug of a cord. The ground prong may help protect this from happening.
The other school of thought is that with the ground hole facing down on a duplex receptacle if the plug of the cord has something fall on it the last blade to disengage would be the ground pin.
Another explanation
Reason why "ground-down" is best/safer: the socket for the ground pin should be down because, if the plug starts to work its way out from weight on the cord, the first things to disconnect will be the power pins and that all-important ground pin will be the last to go, thereby providing its protection until no longer needed because the power pins have been disconnected first.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Is Uranus an upside down planet?
Thousands of years ago, Uranus was hit by a massive asteroid.
Why are my 3 prong outlet installed upside down?
in the olden days, electrical engineers figured if you drop razorblade or pin between the receptacle and the plug, the metal will get in contact with the ground prong thus minimizing the chance of energizing a metal object. this is why most outlets in schools and hospitals are installed ' upside down". nowadays we install them 'downside up' to see a smiling face. ha ha.
Is there a flower that grows inside out and upside down?
Yes! There is a flower that grows inside out and upside down. It is called a Cyclamen.
Does the anatomical position change if the body is upside down?
If the body is upside down then it is no longer in the anatomical position. But no, it would not change.
Who said the world has turned upside down?
The Jews accused the Christians of turning the world upside down in Acts 17:5-6.
Do some alien races have upside-down faces?
Yes. Some alien races have upside-down faces.
Does the incline press have you upside down?
it is not upside down. in the inclined press your body is layed down and declined back some degrees.
Do caterpillars hang upside down?
No some moths go on the ground and most caterpillars hang upside down and some stay on the ground
What does anokatoprosopus mean?
Anokatoprosopus means upside-down face (i.e. some aliens or monsters have upside-down faces).
Can you sew with fabric that has flags and some end up being upside down?
Etiquette dictates that a national flag should never be shown upside down. It is a sign of distress to fly a flag upside down.
Can the earth be upside down?
The earth can not be upside down.
What sports are upside down?
Gymnastics is kind of an upside down sport because the handstand you do it upside down and that's the only sport you do upside down flips and etc...
If a bat spends more time upside down than not upside down and it sleeps upside down are it's dreams also upside down?
Dude are you serious? And probably not
Do kangaroos sleep upside down?
No they do not sleep upside down.
When was Upside Down created?
Upside Down was created in 1979.
Is upside-down two words?
This is how you would spell it: upside down. I hope this helps!!
Do alligators pass out upside down?
why are aligator upside down in the video
