[PCR-1000] Grounding your equipment..

[A10382]

Hopefully this is the end of the thread on outlets.  Hopefully it has
provided useful info to help folks protect their very expensive radio
equipment.

There is no US electrical code about three prong outlet orientation.  A
number of organizations and NEMA members have lobbied for a spec, but none
of the suggestions have been entertained including mine of having self
closing outlet slots.

While it would be better to have the ground pin UP, many heavy duty cords
for air conditioners, heaters, and heavy duty outlet strips would be falling
out of the wall as their ground pin is oriented down - toward the cord.  BTW
(by the way), Belkin has a heavy duty TEN (10) outlet strip/surge protector
(but still 15A) organized in two rows of 5, with enough room between the
outlets and rows to plug most power blocks into EVERY outlet -- only US$12
at Home Depot!!

For horizontal electrical outlet installations, I would definitely place the
wide slot (Neutral) UP.

A last note about grounding - Try to use GREEN wire for ground - it's the
recognized color for ground wires and is less likely be confused with HOT
wires.

Regards and happy DX'ing,

Frank

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pres Waterman" <presw@112motors.com>
To: <pcr-1000@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: [PCR-1000] Grounding your equipment..


> >
> > First you MUST test the outlet to be sure the ground lug is grounded - a
> > three light outlet tester (Home Depot has them for about US$5.00) will
> check
> > for proper ground and correct polarity.  You'll be surprised how many
> > outlets I find that are incorrectly wired - even by 'professional'
> > electricians.
>
>
> By the way, when checking outlets:
>
> Proper code in the USA ( probably CA too ) is to have the grounded outlet
> oriented with the ground pin UP- it is NOT to look like a smiley face. I
> could not get the electricians who wired my house to put them in properly
> even though I specifically told them to do it to code and also reminded
> them: NO smiley faces!
>
> There's a good reason for this besides having cords hang down instead of
> up... if a penny were to fall on a cord which is not snug, it will roll
off
> ( maybe even not grounding the black hot wire ) but if it is smiley face
> style it is likely to land in the plug.
>
> Thanks
>
> Pres Waterman, W2PW
> c/o 112 Motors, LLC
> Long Island Ford, Kia and Used Dealer
>
> GO BILLS!
>
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