Ground Up or Down for Nema Plug 14-15 Installation?

[barryvo]

My electrician is asking whether to install the nema 14-50 with the ground up or down.

We plan on using the Ford Mobile Charger at first but may upgrade to a ChargePoint or WallBox in the future.

Any recommendations for up or down?

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[OttawaGuy]

Look at our your plug (for the charger is down), the Ford mobile one is better suited for a ground up (that's what Ford recommends) since it will be hanging below the outlet. If you are thinking of using it backwards (head down) then put the ground down.

Then on your future charger, what's most "convenient" and doesn't require the cable to be twisted to accommodate the other way around. But in the end, you could simply turn the breaker off and turn the outlet around if needed.

Also check your building code (well your electrician should do that), there may be some requirements on how to put the ground in your area.

 

[Benny’66]

My electrician is asking whether to install the nema 14-50 with the ground up or down.

We plan on using the Ford Mobile Charger at first but may upgrade to a ChargePoint or WallBox in the future.

Any recommendations for up or down?

The ground should always be up. Which is counter intuitive because most house plugs have the ground hole down and that is how we are used to seeing them. Maybe because it makes a happy face that way. As my electrical engineering brother explained to me many years ago, the ground should always be up. Two main reasons: #1. The ground is always slightly longer so that it enters and makes contact with the receiver plug circuit first. If the plug is mounted lower to the ground, say less than 3’ from the ground, humans have a tendency to not bend over so when you plug in an appliance, you are actually canting the male plug and negating the extended ground feature if the “positive” terminals are on top. #2. Which is especially important in a garage, if the plug comes out of the wall receptacle slightly and something were to slide down the wall and make contact, you want the ground lug to prevent that item from arcing the power leads. Which it would do if it were on top and gravity stays the way it is.

Now, if your mount your plug at eye level, these concerns are lessened, but #2 is always a concern (gravity still).

I run a manufacturing plant and ALL plugs are installed with the ground up, even in the offices. Which is why all plugs that I have installed at my house are also that way.

 

[machefan]

I run a manufacturing plant and ALL plugs are installed with the ground up, even in the offices. Which is why all plugs that I have installed at my house are also that way.

Most commercial is up, not sure if it's a code thing but for sure a trades thing.

The answer to the question is based on the charger being used, I have the Ford supplied one and for sure ground up with it.

 

[barryvo]

I appreciate the replies and will go with the ground up since I'm going to start off with the Ford Mobile Charger. I'll try try and research WallBox and ChargePoint and strive to get a unit best setup for ground up.

I am learning a lot and should be ready for the MME in December.

 

[timbop]

It depends on the charger. The ford mobile charger is better with the ground up as one usually installs the charger hanging down. For some reason the Grizzl-E is wired the other way, as are some of the other chargers. Decide on the charger you are going to buy and orient the ground accordingly

 

[barryvo]

It depends on the charger. The ford mobile charger is better with the ground up as one usually installs the charger hanging down. For some reason the Grizzl-E is wired the other way, as are some of the other chargers. Decide on the charger you are going to buy and orient the ground accordingly

Is there an easy way to tell which way the charger is setup for before purchasing? We are leaning towards the WallBox or ChargePoint.

 

[BMT1071]

Is there an easy way to tell which way the charger is setup for before purchasing? We are leaning towards the WallBox or ChargePoint.

For the CPHF you want the ground up. See, that was easy. ??

 

[GW Shark]

I am 95% ignorant regarding wiring but I have to ask - What about ground sideways?

 

[phidauex]

I am 95% ignorant regarding wiring but I have to ask - What about ground sideways?

The NEC, and I suspect it’s counterpart in Canada, does not dictate orientation of receptacles so you can go nuts. 45 degrees and keep em guessing!

EDIT: To be prudent, I’ll note that outdoor enclosures and weatherproof boxes usually DO have a required orientation, and the code requires you to follow the installation instructions, so that may limit some sideways applications outdoors!

 

[idkhow]

Most commercial is up, not sure if it's a code thing but for sure a trades thing.

It's a trade thing, no where in the NEC code at all, don't let others BS and tell you it is. This was as of 2017, I read the thing to upgrade our NJ 1950's cape.

Ground up installs are the tell-tale sign of someone who's done a commercial or hospital install.

They are mounted ground up in hospitals so that if it's dislodged a bit, and something drapes across it (think a busy room during surgery) it will hit the ground first and not arc.

With the weight of these plugs, there's no reason why ground down isn't fine.

I personally use Leviton SmartLock Dual AFCI / GFCI outlets at every home-run outlet. Any outlets added need to have AFCI (arc fault current interrupter) now per NEC code, depending on what year your state is running on.

Judging as this will likely be a single drop, you would need a GFCI breaker in the box for maximum protection, and just install the ground down.

Otherwise you end up with the hot and neutral plugs becoming what 'holds the plug in' - not gravity against a ground plug. With that much wattage flowing through, unless it's mounted in place you'll have a wizards sleeve situation in a few years with the plug getting loose.

A waterproof box + ground down is just fine. If you want extra protection, get a GFCI breaker for the run.

 

[Jeffvisor]

Is there an easy way to tell which way the charger is setup for before purchasing? We are leaning towards the WallBox or ChargePoint.

I have the Wallbox and it has the ground down but I had the electrian install ground up and curve the cord and it works great. I always heard install outlet ground up for the reasons explained earlier in the thread if something slides down you want it to hit the ground not the live wires.

 

[idkhow]

What about ground sideways?

Nothing in the NEC about that, our outdoor waterproof receptacles I did are mounted horizontal. I went a little overboard and installed dual AFCI / GFCI outlets at every outlet, not just the home-run.


Happened after I went around with a tester and found out our sink GFCI and outdoor GFCI near a hose were seized open (providing power) - Now I use the SmartLockPro's that test themselves 100 times per second with a little green light to show you all is well.

Better yet, they will not power on if they've encountered a serious threat.

If it's an outdoor install, AFCI isn't necessary and my product of choice of theirs is a SmartLockPro GFCI slim (slim is crucial for 1950's era outlet boxes) - they are GFCI with weather resistance.

If you need GFCI 110V for interior, exterior, get one of these and you're set for years. All outlets down line from it are protected as well from the first (home-run) outlet

 

[timbop]

ground pin up assuming the charger is mounted above the plug. IMHO it is generally better not to have a 180 degree bend in a short and thick cable like that:

 

[timbop]

The NEC, and I suspect it’s counterpart in Canada, does not dictate orientation of receptacles so you can go nuts. 45 degrees and keep em guessing!

EDIT: To be prudent, I’ll note that outdoor enclosures and weatherproof boxes usually DO have a required orientation, and the code requires you to follow the installation instructions, so that may limit some sideways applications outdoors!

Right, but the screw attachments to the outlet are at the top and bottom and studs run vertical, so unless you go out of your way to mount the box sideways the choice is top or bottom.

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