[Coco] BASIC format questions (off subject)

[Dave Philipsen]

There are reasons for both orientations (see below).  It is not a 
subject that has been well decided.  The National Electric Code has not 
decided whether either way is best or safest.

  * The outlet should be oriented with the *ground pin up* because if
    the plug comes slightly loose and a metal object were to fall from
    above, the ground plug, which usually does not carry current, would
    deflect the object so that it would not hit is live prongs.  It is
    accepted that this idea began in health care facilities where many
    tools used for patient care are metal.  The story goes that
    hospitals were wired by union electricians and as the unions grew
    the practice spread to other types of buildings.
  * The outlet should be oriented with the *ground pin up* because this
    pin is longer and the plastic around the plug is meatier, so it will
    help to keep the plug inserted in the outlet.
  * The outlet should be oriented with the *ground pin down* because a
    person grabbing the outlet will have their index finger at the
    bottom side of the plug and the index finger sticks out further than
    the thumb.  Having the ground down will keep a person's index finger
    from touching the live pins.
  * The outlet should be oriented with the *ground pin down* because
    many common household items such as nightlights, timers, and battery
    chargers are oriented with the ground pin down.  In addition, GFCI
    outlets, which have text on the reset and test buttons, are oriented
    with the ground pin down (and the text readable).


Dave



On 3/14/2017 8:06 PM, Steve Ostrom wrote:
> That sounds dangerous.  If gravity (or cat or kid) tugs down on a plug 
> inserted into this socket, the ground pin will disconnect before the 
> neutral and hot.  I'd vote for idiot contractor.
>
> --- Steve ---
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Gregory Law
> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 4:27 PM
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [Coco] BASIC format questions
>
> Perhaps he should bring it to my house because every AC outlet here is
> already polarized for Australia power. It's a real pain in the keester
> dealing with upside down outlets, but either this was the building code
> in effect at the time the house was built or the contractor was an
> idiot. Given the many issues we've run into over the years (like five
> nail holding the kitchen cabinets to the wall that eventually came
> undone a couple years ago), I'm leaning towards the contractor was an
> idiot.
>
> On 3/14/2017 5:14:12 PM, "Arthur Flexser" <flexser at fiu.edu> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Mar 14, 2017 at 2:32 PM, John W. Linville
>> <linville at tuxdriver.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>  FWIW, I have British and French CoCo's, and even Welsh and Spanish
>>>  Dragons. I have a Brasilian CP-400 as well. But I don't have any way
>>>  to generate upside-down polarity power for Australian machines... ;-)
>>>
>>>
>> I'm surprised the answer hasn't already occurred to you....
>>
>> You just go to the power outlet the Australian CoCo is to be plugged
>> into,
>> unscrew the face plate and the screws that hold the sockets in place,
>> then
>> turn the sockets upside down and reassemble the thing.  The hole for
>> the
>> ground connection on each socket will now be at the top instead of the
>> bottom, so you know the polarity is now changed to upside down.
>>
>> Don't be embarrassed, the list is always ready to provide help for
>> those in
>> need due to lack of technical training.
>>
>> Art
>>
>> -- 
>> Coco mailing list
>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>
>