Jay Barracato wrote on Mon, 13 December 2010 07:33 |
The logic that was explained to me the first time I saw a contractor doing that was that if a paper clip or something was dropped on a partially inserted plug, it would hit the ground first and slide off, instead of potentially shorting the hot/neutral.
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I can tell you, that from experience, ground UP is a great idea. When I was younger, and stupid, and my step father claimed to know more than he actually did, he built a bedroom in the attic, electrical included. Well, he used metal cover plates, but forgot the screws to hold them in place. Well one day I unplugged our space heater and the plate fell. Shorting H-N. It was impressive watching the lights dim to nearly nothing. No breakers tripped either.
My mother promptly went out and bought plastic covers.
That might have been the day I became really interested in electrical work. Partially to keep my stepfather from ever doing it again.