# Electrical Outlet Orientation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737 "2003-08-12T21:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/21 "2003-08-14T02:30:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j66 \* > \*\*So, there is no ‘correct’ to the up-down ground question? > > All of mine have been installed ground down, because that’s the way they are in the little pictures; and it does seem to be the more stable configuration because the ground is larger and fits more tightly. > > But the triangle with the apex at the top Should be more stable; that’s why I asked. Hell, it’s easy enough to change if I did it wrong. \*\* You’re not wrong. ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/22 "2003-08-14T03:33:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j66 \* > \*\*So, where should the ground lug be? \*\* In Ontario the code does not specify, so it can go either way. I heard this may change in the near future. The exception is mobile homes, where the ground MUST be on top. ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/23 "2003-08-14T03:36:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pergau \* > \*\*This is probably no help to you but in the UK and Ireland, all (i.e 99.9%) of boxes are installed horizontally. This is beacuse a double socket would look funny if it was vertical - given the orientation of a UK socket. \*\* No only funny looking, but I don’t think even possible. UK plug wires come out the bottom and go down so the top plug would block the bottom one. North American plugs have the wire coming out the back. ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/24 "2003-08-14T04:40:44Z")
I have a slightly related question about the orientation of the socket in relation to the others. We have two types of power strips in our computer room, some that were evidently designed for electronics and others for… well, who knows what. The ones for electronics have the grounding prong toward a long side, so the fat converters on the end of some plugs have a prayer of fitting. The ones for the “mystery purpose” have the grounding prong toward the small end. Firstly, why are any power strips built in such a way as to allow them to be blocked? Second, what is the deal with the strips with large gaps between the vertical plugs so the blocks will fit? Are they retarded? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/25 "2003-08-14T05:07:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phage \* > \*\* The ones for the “mystery purpose” have the grounding prong toward the small end. Firstly, why are any power strips built in such a way as to allow them to be blocked? \*\* Because it’s cheaper to build them this way. All the ‘hot’ connectors run down one side of the strip, the ‘neutral’ connection on the other side, and the ground bus down the middle. Manufacturing them is simple. On the other ones where the recepticles face to the side, then the wires cross over each other and it’s more complicated. Now this is probably a ‘minor’ complication, and can easily be designed around. It probably adds only $1 or so to the cost. But when you are gearing up to make millions of these units, every penny saved is important. And the cheaper ones work fine for many uses. Like plugging a bunch of Xmas tree lights into one strip with one switch. So the marketplace provides both, and you get to buy whichever kind you want, at the appropriate price. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/26 "2003-08-14T13:11:55Z")
Wooba, I actually meant vertical as in a horizontal socket on its side. You’re right about it not working as one on top of the other. However, you can buy multiple gang sockets that have the sockets at 45 degrees to the “box” so the gang can be placed either Vertical or horizontal! At least we don’t have arguments about which way up they should go. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737/27 "2003-08-14T15:20:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wooba \* > \*\*North American plugs have the wire coming out the back. \*\* Not always! The plug on my Maytag refridgerator comes out the side next to the ground prong. The plug on my old unit, Frididare, came out the side away from the ground lug. YMMV! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-outlet-orientation/194737.md?page=1)