4 ms·
I originally trained to be an electrician. That said, the argument for ground pin down was if a plug "falls" out due to gravity, the ground prong will be the la
by MisterTea 6y ago
I originally trained to be an electrician. That said, the argument for ground pin down was if a plug "falls" out due to gravity, the ground prong will be the last pin to break connection. Though honestly this is really unnecessary as if the hot and neutral have broke, what current is there to ground?
Another reason is a lot of manufactures of grounded/polarized wall-warts and GFI plugs tended to orient the damn things for ground pin down making ground up installs prone to falling out. So you wind up with electricians following ground down to accommodate this design flaw (or habit).
I dislike the nema 5-15 blade design as it doesn't hold up well to wear. I'd much prefer a pin and sleeve design with the plug recessed in the socket like CEE 7/Schuko. But that's another argument.
- dragonwriter 6y ago> That said, the argument for ground pin down was if a plug "falls" out due to gravity, the ground prong will be the last pin to break connection. Though honestly this is really unnecessary as if the hot and neutral have broke, what current is there to ground? The ground prong being the last to lose connection means it will not lose connection while the others a plugged in. In the reverse case, where it is the first to loss connection, it will lose connection while there is something to ground.
- throw0101a 6y ago> Another reason is a lot of manufactures of grounded/polarized wall-warts and GFI plugs tended to orient the damn things for ground pin down making ground up installs prone to falling out. I've taken to using these kinds of 30cm / "1 foot extension cords" just to get wall worts a bit of distance away: * https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1CLF7O/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1CLF7O/ * https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/computer-power/external?filter_cablelength=304.8 https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/computer-power/externa...
- bfuclusion 6y agoWhat do you think about the UK G plug?
- imgabe 6y ago> Though honestly this is really unnecessary as if the hot and neutral have broke, what current is there to ground? There could be stored charge in capacitors as in older TV sets or switching power supplies. Theoretically I suppose a short to one of these could energize other metallic components and would be immediately discharged if the ground is still connected.