Power outlet orientation.

[Syncopator]

In Britain we mount our outlets with the earth socket at the top. The reason being that anything conductive which might fall between the socket and the plug would probably make contact with the earth pin first ... etc.

American sockets used to be mounted the same way, and I had assumed for the same reason.

All photographs of American outlets now show that they are mounted inversely, with the earth socket at the bottom.

This seems to fly in the face of common sense.

Does anyone know why this is done?

 

[Midwest]

Here's a history of UK plugs. AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets:_British_and_related_types

Dunno about the location of the earth pin at the apex of the plug. Perhaps it was designed such, that when pushing plug into socket, the forefinger would be naturally at the top or apex, so it was safer to have the earth pin here rather than a live pin?

 

[telectrix]

goes back forever, even before my time. 15A round pin sockets has earth pin at the top. (except for australia, of course, where it was at the bottom).

 

[freddo]

If the earth pin was at the bottom, the flex would likely have to exit the front of the plug, or at an angle to get past it.

 

[telectrix]

thought the cable would exit at the top.and what if the appliance is situated above the socket?

 

[PEG]

Earth pin goes in first-comes out last,most socket outlets are viewed and used,from above,so lining up the longer pin,is easier.

Owt else?

 

[7029 dave]

Never really thought about it.

 

[Des 56]

The earth pin being at the top is defeated when the socket is mounted side on

 

[dmxtothemax]

UK = UP
USA = EITHER WAY
AUSTRALIA = DOWN

just goes to show that it doesn't matter a great deal which way it is.

Just like the age old toilet paper conundrum over or under !

don't matter a tupeny damn !

 

[Pat H]

Largely irrelevant nowadays. Almost all plugs have sleeves on the L and N plug pins so stuff dropping in doesn't make any difference.

But if the socket was upside down then the flex would exit going up. That would add additional resistance (gravity) to the electrical flow.

 

[Dave OCD]

Imagine in the past a socket mounted upside down with the old unsleeved pin plug inserted and powered up, just a few mm 'loose' in the socket and you'd have exposed live conductors, of course this would be the case either way up but would be more accessible.

 

[freddo]

With the pins live, the gap between the plug and the socket would be very small though, too small to get your fingers into, especially if the 9.5mm surface around the live pins is there (which it should be!). You could touch the pins with a metal ruler or a knife blade if the pins were unsleeved, but that's just silly.

If you want to shock yourself, a lampholder is the easiest way.

 

[Santa]

You guys might find this thread interesting British Electrical Code Oddities - Straight Dope Message Board - http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=813795&highlight=receptacles

 

[Midwest]

You guys might find this thread interesting British Electrical Code Oddities - Straight Dope Message Board - http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=813795&highlight=receptacles

My plug's better than your plug. I thought some of our threads get a bit ----

 

[telectrix]

totally irrelevant compared with the fact that my like button has disappeared into cyber space.