Things we should know but maybe don't

[Kev Williams]

--such as, why are some of the power outlets in hospitals red? I just got an order to engrave 300 outlet covers for a hospital, and half of them are red. I've been AWARE of red outlets all my life, but never thought to ask anyone WHY they're red! So when the electric company dropped them all off yesterday, I asked. Now I know, and I'm not sure if I feel dumb, or smart about that! ;)

Just curious who does, and doesn't know why the red ones are red! (Maybe I'm the only one!) - If you know, just say so for now, and we can reveal in a few days :)

Also curious about other reasonably common things that may be unknown to myself and others... post up! :D

Likely won't be the next 'levity' thread but it could get interesting!

[Paul F Franklin]

I do, I do! .

[Rich Engelhardt]

It's been like this for at least 25 years that I know of for sure - it might very well be longer.

[Edward Weber]

I thought everyone knew this, well I guess they will soon.

[John K Jordan]

I was curious and asked, many years ago.

[Jim Koepke]

Also curious about other reasonably common things that may be unknown to myself and others... post up! :D

Okay, I know why there are red, green and orange sockets and why they are installed with the ground prong up.

But here is something:

485850

This comes in handy for things like canned dog food or refried beans. These and other canned goods are sometimes difficult to coax out of the can. The tool is mostly a 16d nail with the head removed and the end sharpened to punch a hole in one end of the can after the other end has been removed. This allows air into the can so the product inside can drop out without creating a vacuum. When the refried beans are slow to start a puckering of the lips over the hole and blowing some air into the can speeds up the process.

I used to use a 'church key' to poke a hole, but many cans now days do not have a rim on the bottom to catch the opener.

jtk

[Matt Day]

I built hospitals - red are on emergency power.

[John Lanciani]

But what about the orange outlets, we can't leave them out of the discussion... ( yes i know what they are :p)

Oops, I see now that Jim already mentioned the orange outlets. Now the whole debate over ground up or ground down, thats a whole other can of worms!!

[John K Jordan]

Okay, I know why there are red, green and orange sockets and why they are installed with the ground prong up.
...

I don't why the hospital does it but if you've ever had a sliver of metal from a machining operation fall behind the machine and land across a tiny gap between a plug and the receptacle and across the two hots in a 110v circuit you might consider mounting the grounds up.

JKJ

[Thomas McCurnin]

Orange outlets are, in theory, direct runs to the service panel, and don't share grounds or neutrals with other outlets, even if on the same circuit. I see them in music venues and studios to try to eliminate the dreaded 60 cycle hum. Red outlets are subject to a back up generator, so only critical things are hooked to them.

[Bill Dufour]

I just use the can opener to make a short slit.
Bill D

[Bill Dufour]

Ground up, or neutral up if horizontal, for outlets.
The Toilet paper up and over is the correct method as shwon in the original patent drawing.
Bill D.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toilet-paper-roll-patent-US465588-0.png

[Alan Lightstone]

Ground up, or neutral up if horizontal, for outlets.
The Toilet paper up and over is the correct method as shown in the original patent drawing.
Bill D.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toilet-paper-roll-patent-US465588-0.png

Perhaps, but there was the famous Dear Abby debate on this that brought in everyone including mechanical engineers from MIT. And the most reader responses in the history of her column. Her answer from the scientists then was under.

A recent discussion went to the OVER camp due to less bacterial contamination of the bathroom walls, of all things:
https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/04/what-is-the-correct-way-to-hang-toilet-paper/
https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/the-correct-way-to-hang-toilet-paper-according-to-.html

So, I guess over it is. Though I really prefer under. Oh well. Another thing we should know...:confused:

[Roger Feeley]

But what about the orange outlets, we can't leave them out of the discussion... ( yes i know what they are :p)

Oops, I see now that Jim already mentioned the orange outlets. Now the whole debate over ground up or ground down, thats a whole other can of worms!!

nuts! I just bought a bunch of receptacles at HD with the grounds on the bottom. Should I take them back? I’m already stuck with a bunch of overhand toilet paper.

[Jim Koepke]

Ground up, or neutral up if horizontal, for outlets.
The Toilet paper up and over is the correct method as shwon in the original patent drawing.
Bill D.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toilet-paper-roll-patent-US465588-0.png

If you have had kids or cats you may have experience in why some prefer the back and under installation of toilet paper.

Having the ground up was important when more cover plates were metal and screws would often become loose.

jtk

[Jerry Bruette]

nuts! I just bought a bunch of receptacles at HD with the grounds on the bottom. Should I take them back? I’m already stuck with a bunch of overhand toilet paper.

You could always rewind the toilet paper instead of struggling with it being wound the wrong way.

[John K Jordan]

You could always rewind the toilet paper instead of struggling with it being wound the wrong way.

I observed years ago that people who prefer the paper "underhand" (pulled down from the back of the roll near the wall) probably grew up as little terrors to their parents, or had siblings that were. Once toddlers learn how much fun it is to swipe down and empty a properly placed roll onto the floor, mama's easiest defense is to turn the roll around backwards. Or as someone mentioned, had untrained cats in the house.

[Lee DeRaud]

nuts! I just bought a bunch of receptacles at HD with the grounds on the bottom. Should I take them back? I’m already stuck with a bunch of overhand toilet paper.
Take them back.
While you're there, see if they have any of these...mine is completely sold out.
485912

[John K Jordan]

Take them back.
While you're there, see if they have any of these...mine is completely sold out.
485912

I think you should turn off the power, pull all the switches, and rewire them so they are in the right positions. Or call an electrician…

[Bill Dufour]

Ground up is always safer and easier if it is below waist height. Above breast height ground down is easier to plug in.
Bill D

[Edward Weber]

I always thought that ground up was for a "switched" outlet.

[Kev Williams]

While there's valid reasons to mount outlets ground post up, how many refrigerators or washing machines have ever been made with its flat space-saver grounded plug designed to used in an up-grounded outlet-?

[Jerry Bruette]

While there's valid reasons to mount outlets ground post up, how many refrigerators or washing machines have ever been made with its flat space-saver grounded plug designed to used in an up-grounded outlet-?

I've got a freezer made that way. I finally got fed up and turned the outlet around in the box.

[Roger Feeley]

I observed years ago that people who prefer the paper "underhand" (pulled down from the back of the roll near the wall) probably grew up as little terrors to their parents, or had siblings that were. Once toddlers learn how much fun it is to swipe down and empty a properly placed roll onto the floor, mama's easiest defense is to turn the roll around backwards. Or as someone mentioned, had untrained cats in the house.

my answer to this depends on whether you have a cat. If you do, the paper has to be underhand. If you don’t, whatever.

[Roger Feeley]

You could always rewind the toilet paper instead of struggling with it being wound the wrong way.

now there’s an idea for a ridiculous machine. A toilet paper rewinder.

[Bill Dufour]

We buy two ply paper and I re-roll it into two rolls of single ply.
Bill D.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Ground up, or neutral up if horizontal, for outlets.
The Toilet paper up and over is the correct method as shwon in the original patent drawing.
Bill D.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toilet-paper-roll-patent-US465588-0.png

I'd advise you to not bring this up with my wife of 54 years. :eek:;):rolleyes::D

Pick your battles!

[Jerome Stanek]

Orange are insulated out lets used for equipment that is subject to spikes. We had to do that for the computer and cash registers at drug stores.

[Bill Dufour]

Orange is isolated ground. Not really possible to make a insulated outlet that conducts.
Bill D

[Ronald Blue]

Orange is isolated ground. Not really possible to make a insulated outlet that conducts.
Bill D

I knew a guy that could use those. Same guy crimped on wire ends without stripping the wires first. (No they weren't insulation piercing.) Nothing worked either for some reason. But there wasn't any radio interference or so I've heard.

[Bill Dufour]

I think we all know a refrigerator should always be plugged into the bottom outlet and a heating device into the top outlet for most efficiency.
Bill D

[Jerome Stanek]

Orange is isolated ground. Not really possible to make a insulated outlet that conducts.
Bill D

my bad that is what I meant

[Dan Hunkele]

I suppose the different colored caps on fire hydrants should be thrown into the mix.

[Bill Dufour]

I suppose the different colored caps on fire hydrants should be thrown into the mix.


I think that varies by department to some extent. There is a national standard but ...
Oakland Califorina used to have a different size hydrant connection but state law forced them to change after the Oakland hills fire killed 25 people and destroyed almost 3,000 homes in the city city. Only nearby fire departments had adapters so departments more then 50 miles away could not help.
San Francisco still uses a non standard 3 inch hydrant and some big high pressure, 300 PSI, hydrants downtown as well.
Bill D

https://nfsa.org/2021/02/12/why-arent-all-fire-hydrants-red/

[Keegan Shields]

We buy two ply paper and I re-roll it into two rolls of single ply.
Bill D.

Sounds like a secret the experts don't want you to know!!!!

[Bill Dufour]

I suppose you could buy quilted paper and unroll it into two sheets and a layer of quilting to get three times as much use per roll.
Bill D

[Lee DeRaud]

I suppose you could buy quilted paper and unroll it into two sheets and a layer of quilting to get three times as much use per roll.
Bill D
If I ever get to a point in life where that sounds like a good idea, I'll just go ahead and punch my own ticket.