Why Some Wall Outlets Are Installed Upside Down

as being “upside down,” they are usually referring to the orientation of a standard North American-style receptacle.

In the more familiar position, you will generally see:

Two narrow vertical slots positioned toward the top

A round grounding opening underneath them

When the receptacle is rotated 180 degrees, the arrangement is reversed:

The round grounding opening is at the top

The two vertical slots are underneath

The important point is that rotating a standard receptacle does not automatically change the way the receptacle functions. An outlet does not suddenly become a different type of outlet simply because it has been

turned