Down?
There are several reasons.
And one of the most interesting has to do with safety.
The Ground Pin Can Be Positioned on Top
One reason some electricians orient receptacles with the ground opening on top is to provide a potential safety advantage when a plug is only partially inserted.
Imagine a plug with a metal object or conductive material falling onto it.
With the ground opening on top, the grounding pin of the plug enters the receptacle first.
That can potentially reduce the chance of a falling conductive object contacting the energized portions of the plug in certain situations.
This is one reason you’ll sometimes see this orientation in commercial, industrial, workshop, or other settings where equipment and cords may be moved around frequently. BusinessOperations
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It’s not a magic safety feature, and it doesn’t replace proper electrical protection, but
