frontpageLolaBunny21 | Staff posted Nov 03, 2025 08:30 PM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
frontpageLolaBunny21 | Staff posted Nov 03, 2025 08:30 PM
Prime Members: Mifaso 6-Outlet Wall Extender w/ 3 USB Ports (1x USB-C)
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Also, you're supposed to test GFCI monthly, so you'll have to take it off once a month anyways.
Well done, sir.
At my current rental there is one actual gfci outlet in a powder room which protects the two other bathrooms. The kitchen has its own branch but there are several outlets protected by one gfci outlet.
Local code may vary ofc.
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Safety Against Objects Hitting the Outlet from the Top
When the ground prong is at the top, if a metallic object (like a picture frame, knife, nail, or other conductive item) falls and lands on a loosely plugged-in cord, it is likely to hit the ground prong first. This can help prevent short circuits or fires, since the ground connection safely diverts electrical energy away rather than allowing contact with live terminals.
Switch-Controlled Outlet Indication
In homes, electricians sometimes install outlets upside down to indicate that the outlet is controlled by a wall switch. Only one half of the outlet may actually be switch-controlled, and flipping it visually distinguishes it from other standard outlets.
Look at the photos... the mounting screw that keeps this attached to the outlet has no place to go.
Nearly all GFCI outlets place the test and reset buttons where the bolt hole would normally be for a classic style wall plate.
Given the purpose of the shelf on top of this device, I would want it securely mounted to the outlet and not simply plugged into the outlet as it's likely to work itself out over time (when weight is applied to the shelf).
Safety Against Objects Hitting the Outlet from the Top
When the ground prong is at the top, if a metallic object (like a picture frame, knife, nail, or other conductive item) falls and lands on a loosely plugged-in cord, it is likely to hit the ground prong first. This can help prevent short circuits or fires, since the ground connection safely diverts electrical energy away rather than allowing contact with live terminals.
Switch-Controlled Outlet Indication
In homes, electricians sometimes install outlets upside down to indicate that the outlet is controlled by a wall switch. Only one half of the outlet may actually be switch-controlled, and flipping it visually distinguishes it from other standard outlets.
Neither are common in the states I've lived in nor visited.
- regional norms that has developed in certain areas over time
- how an electrician was taught to do it during their apprenticeship (preference)
- safety: while I completely understand the argument for safety and why they would do this in hospitals as risk mitigation, the chances of a metal object falling on a partially unplugged (but still hot) outlet in JUST the right way so as to cause an arc between the two prongs seems a bit like the same odds I would give being struck by lightning. Beyond that, most residential building codes these days will require arc fault protection that would negate the need for the practice (of course that would only apply to certain scenarios and not necessarily to homes built before these standards).
It is actually UNCOMMON enough that NEMA has no mention of the practice or any specific orientation being more correct. If it was truly such a common thing, surely a national association governing these practices would have some sort of document supporting the practice. Anyway, none of this really matters since I doubt you have come across many residential properties during your adventures that have every single outlet installed with the ground up orientation as our current home has and how many of the homes/buildings in this area have as well. That was the original point I was trying to make. My situation is not at all common.
I appreciate the insight and actually did find it interesting to finally deep dive into this. My BIL is a local electricians apprentice and I might have to ask him about this just to know if he will swear by the practice or not... but he is also kind of an idiot so we will see how that goes lol
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Btw code doesn't dictate orientation and there isn't a "right" or "wrong" way but what's common is often regional (and as someone else said one is often upside down to indicate which is switch controlled)
Here's a pretty cool video about this in which he tries to test if one way is safer by throwing a metal knife around!
https://youtu.be/vNj75gJVxcE
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