Been doing electrical over 30 years. You can use the oscillating tool to trim the front of the box flush. I have had to do that when wall coverings changed. As for the receptacles I always tell people I put it then that way so the electricity will not fall out. 😂. Very nice shop. Keep up the great work.
Former electrician here. In residential construction, an upside-down outlet indicates a half-hot outlet. Meaning 1 side is constant hot, 1 is switched. Another time to install the outlet upside-down is if the plate covers are metal. Usually in commercial/industrial work. The idea being if the cover comes loose and falls off with something plugged in, the metal cover will fall onto the ground post and not across the hot and neutral. But hey, it's your shop. Do your thing. BTW-The panel looks fantastic. Better than many "pro" jobs I've seen. If you did need more circuits you could always get thin mount breakers or quads for the 240V locations.
Some folks, myself included, would pig tail from the romex run to the receptacle rather than running the outlet in-line in the circuit. Obviously, what you've done is sufficient and should work just fine.
As a guy who was shocked pretty badly many years ago, I am terrified of electrical work. I always appreciate DIY'ers who can tackle these jobs. Great work Sam.
Great work Sam. I did my own electric as well and the only thing I did different is in the first receptacle you wired up in the video I would have done blacks together and whites together and then pigtailed to one screw. Only reason is if a receptacle fails it will not allow power to the rest of the circuit down from the failure this way you no wheee your failed outlet is. I think I explained that right. But I’m like you not a pro at all
Nothing in the NEC book states Ground Up or Down for duplexes. Just be consistent. I was trained to put the ground down in case the ground wire comes loose.
As a former IT person I’m loving the very neat and labeled wiring in that box. I remember you doing the same when working on wiring in the house. 🙌 Question is: are you as ocd as me that alllllllll the groves in the screws on the outlet covers have to perfectly horizontal??!!!! 😳😳😳🤓
I'm former IT too! Anytime I wire a panel like this I have flashbacks of patch panels, punchdowns, and the good ole Fluke meter chasing stranded pairs. :D I want to be OCD over the screw heads, but they always seem to fight me.
Nope! Bad idea! he would cut the holes down that hold the receptacle screws, this would cause the screws to bottom out before the receptacle was tight against the box.🤯🛫 😊
I've been told that installing the outlets, the orientation you did (upside down), has a additional benifit that I would not have thought of. The reasoning I was given, from a local electrician, was that it is safer due to the ground being up if something was to drop into or touch while pluging in or out and it not hitting a hot wire. Take that with a grain of salf and to each his own. But it does make some sense. I am enjoying seeing your build out and have learned a few good tricks. THANKS
Code doesn't specify, but I've seen where OSHA has made companies change them to ground down for two reasons: 1. It's easier to accidentally break the ground connector off if it's up. 2. Most AC -DC adapters with ground need it ground down. We always spec ground down on building plans.
Take some walnut and cut it in small 1/4” strips and build a frame around your boxes and then put your outlet cover plates on. It will fix the issue and look cool.
Put a wood spacer about 1/2" around each outlet bevel the edges so they taper in and it will have a real nice look , and that's my suggestion. I enjoy your videos keep up the good work,
Also, that panel is one of the most professional looking panels I have seen that is how I used to wire my panels, including the little jackets, telling what the wire is coming from very very good job
Easy to fix. Happens more than you know. Use an oscillating tool and cut the boxes flush with the wallboard. You will still be able to mount your receptacles normally.
The ground on high on the high side of the receptacle when you put the receptacle in is actually the correct way for the receptacle to sit also on a stab in on the back if you have a 12 amp wire, and you want to try to stab in the back on a 15 amp plug. It is not allowed and most almost every inspector will tell you to change it but you can use it a regularreceptacle if you put your wires around the screw terminals
Nice video! As many have mentioned, you could make outlet cover spacer-plates out of wood using your LASER cutter. If you do so consider also engraving the panel/circuit breaker number that serves the outlet on the spacer. This is very handy for troubleshooting, expanding your lab, or locking out equipment.
2:25 print some 3d printed shims that are the same as the covers. If you use petg you could vapor smooth to get a smooth texture as the faceplate. You could potential colour code them to 20amp and 15amp etc.
Make a wood bezel to go around the outlet box, about a 1/4 inch past the outlet cover. I like ground down when used for extension cords because of how i grip the plug, thumb on the flat and the index finger around the ground side.
Hi sam Barry from the UK here, I know the UK regulation standard's and wiring are different from the US, bur for your problem where you used paneling, can you make your own packing plate in wood or plastic, to go behind your covers, using your different cover plates as a template to keep the size the same, also here in the UK the power outlets are very different, nearley always they have switch's on them so you can disconnect the power to any appliance by simply turning the switch to off as the cover and switch are all one unit, we can get them without switches also, plus our switches you put them down for on and up for off, this includes light switches as well, our 13amp plugs are well known for being probably the safest plug in the world, look them up to see their features.
Sam, my only critique is the fact you did not make pigtails up in the middle circuits for the receptacles. You should never depend on a device to continue a circuit. Best practice is to make up a pigtail and have each individual receptacle connected that way, if for some reason the device gets damaged, you do not lose continuity throughout the rest of the circuit. As far as the grounding pin being up or down it is just an aesthetic decision .I was an electrician in a hospital and we were required to install the grounding pins downward. Keep up the great work and I know you’ll enjoy the new shop.
sam take your buzz saw and cut the nails on the stud side of your outlet boxes reset them and drywall screw the box back in or you could cut you out some medallion type things to square up the outlets i wired houses for 35 years in eastern nc and all our outlets went in ground up
I CAN'T JUSTIFY ANY REASON TO INSTAL OUTLETS UPSIDE DOWN. I THINK THEY LOOK OUT OF PLACE THAT WAY. BUT I LOVE THE IDEA TO TRIM THE BOX BACK . NICE JOB IN THE PANEL , AND GOOD IDEA HAVING LABLES UNDER COVER. THANKS.
Theoretically it don't matter, what matters is you got the wires in the proper location on receptacles..... I'm 3rd generation electrician, started out as a summer helper with the union , although I choose a different Ave cause u grew up , my first receptacle I changed out HOT was 8 yrs old with my dad's supervision watching over me , so I'd say your ok... there is a difference in commercial and residential... I've done both a lot in ghe Houston area , being a licensed electrician has its perks ..... your doing good 👍
Installing outlets with the ground up is better for the cord. Gravity is constantly pulling the cord toward the floor. If it sags with ground on the bottom, you have potential for the hot or neutral to arc as they pull out of the plug. With ground up, the ground has the highest chance of backing out of the plug. With zero current flowing through the ground, this is the safer option. If you ever wanted to, you could add a decorative trim around your shop at outlet height to fill those gaps. In the meantime, that gap is aesthetic.
To straighten the outlet, you can also stick a trim screwdriver in the ground hole near the middle of the outlet and use the screwdriver as a lever to move the outlet back and forth until straight.
Have plugs that side load and that is not so good for cords. Contractors who wired addition a few years back did outlets your way and I don't like them. Have also heard some do those upside downs if the outlet is switch controlled.
@@Messymy what do you mean by side load? Electricity doesn’t care which end is up. As long as connections are tight to keep arcing from occurring, it’s really just a matter of preference. The exception being outlets mounted sideways on a backsplash where water has potential to rise…. Then you gotta think, do I not want water to hit the hot so mount hot side up? Or do I want it to short out as soon as possible and kill the power instead of letting the water rise higher before it trips the breaker and mount it hot side down? But even that scenario is a stretch as most cases you’re not going to have liquid that high unless the house floods… in which case main power is likely (hopefully) already tripped/lost.
@@Messymy if by side load you mean the outlets are sideways, then I agree. I don’t care for these as it exerts forces on the prongs in a sideways direction and over time could bend them.
I think probably what triggers me, and most people is we’re just not used to them being upside down there is no right or wrong answer but as far as people doing research if you go to the manufacturers website which it doesn’t really matter what brand just google Leviton for example, you don’t even have to go to their site just Google them and click on images you will see 99% of their images are the opposite way from Sam’s devices most have writing on them they’re even packaged the opposite direction but at the end of the day there’s no right or wrong whatever you like.
Ground down is the only way that works with the 90 degree plugs found on many appliances so is recomended orientation by those manufacturers. Ground up is often used to indicate that an outlet or couple outlets are on a switch in residential situations. I worked six years in healthcare and government facilities going around testing every outlet with equipment and special computer program. If any were oriented ground up it would be an automatic fail and there would be delays because a qualified electrician would have to come back in and make all repairs or changes needed then they would have to rearange for plugs to be tested a second time.
Code 406.6 states that the cover must seat against the mounting surface. So , as many have suggested, make a trim piece to fill the gap. The code does not specify which way to mount the outlet - ground up or ground down are both legal. A great video as usual.
Sam trim the fronts of the boxes off with multi/oscillating tool. Had to do it once when I miss judged the thickness of tile backer and tile. Worked like a charm.
As for right side up or to some, upside down, orienting receptacles with the ground up is the best way to install them. Why you ask? Because if a tool, paper clip etc is ever dropped and a plug isn’t quite in it’ll hit the ground and typically just keep falling. If it was the other way around it could fall and stay there shorting across the hot and common wire. Either way it could trip the breaker but you’re less likely try grabbing whatever it is before the breaker trips. This is how it was explained to me on a commercial job by an electrician.
I thought it was kinda wonky until I got it. Klein Tools Rapi-Driv Screwdriver 67100. If you are doing electrical this this is sooooo handy. I love seeing the progress. Keep it up!
My question would be that as you put up your wallboard and noticed this issue, why didn’t you just reset the boxes? What you can do is make some wood extensions to cover this error. Looking good so far. 😊
A laser and some 1/4 plywood would work well to make a filler plate. A rectangle plate with laser engraved information on what tool is plugged into that fixture could be a fun add-on. You could patent it as "single gang new work box trim art."...😂lol
You are amazing Sam, we have been watching your channel for quite a while and you have done a great job tackling everything. This workshop build has been amazing to watch, especially how you have learned so much to be able to Get'r Done working mostly by yourself.
I am an industrial electrician according to the NEC you did it right it's the not so smart people that do not know the reason for putting the ground up.
I did the same thing on the last build I did. So i cut out some 1/4" plywood plates to fit over the box then held them on with the cover plates. Later before painting wd caulked around those which held the in place and once painted you could barely see them. I cut mine by hand with a jigsaw but if you have a laser that will cut it its easy peasy.
2023 code. If your instructions that came with the outlet specifically says (not just a picture) ground up or down that is how it must be installed. Otherwise the code does not care. Now in some counties (yes, code is usually decided by the county) in commercial or hospital settings grounds are up or down depending, usually according to use. In some areas in residential installations ground down is normal and the ground up means the outlet is on a switch. So if your instructions say ground up you have installed according to code. If they don't say then up, down, left or right are all fine according to the 2023 code book which I doubt anyone has adopted, yet. 😊
Your power points are nothing like ours in Australia. We have on/off switches on ours . Also your light switches are opposite to ours. Ours are up for off, down for on.
Very professional looking job Sam 👍, as for the outlets you could always CNC or Laser cut some fancy frames and put your Logo on them, making it truly a custom build.
I like the comment that says make you a decorative surround for your cover plates. Might as well display some of your work in the workshop and it solves a “problem”. My receptacles are sideways
In our area I understand it is code to put the sockets in like you did, so you did good. Also get some 1/4 inch wood and make a frame around the box to have no space behind the plate. All problems solved.
Make decretive 1/4 inch thick wood things that go around your boxes. like frame them in like a picture... urn your outlets so the ground face down.. Yes I know many have their own opinions on this. Electrical code does not states orientation but take it from experience all items made in North America are made to fit the outlets with the ground down...Ground up is the old way they did things that is why many factories and ld houses had the ground up but their is a lot of engineers talk about the benefits of having the ground down
I'm a licensed electrician and general contractor and on commercial I usually install up and residential down because that's how most people have seen the outlets oriented.
The reason the outlets are installed "upside down" is for safety, it has nothing to do with how plugs are oriented. If ground is up and the plug is somewhat out of the wall, something slides down there, it hits ground, no trouble. If it's oriented the other way, then the item crosses the hot and neutral and causes a short, spark, possible fire. Homes should also have them installed that way. Any electrical done in the past decade or so in a residential will be that way also. Where I live it's code, they have to be. You also shouldn't use a power drill to for electrical, you're bound to strip something. They make box spacers to deal with that 1/4 gap or some 1/2x1/4 wood bits and a chop saw.
Sam take you laser and cut out like picture frames to go behind the outlets either make them flush with the edge of the plate or make them go out a quarter inch or so and paint them a different color to highlight them. Cool think outside of the box . How about different shapes triangles circles diamonds possibilities are endless
There is no upside down or not for outlets. The reason some outlets are ground up is for safety because if something falls on it, it will hit the ground first. Most hospitals have them ground up. It’s definitely not wrong and neither is ground down.
@12:18 You better cover that. Your OCD is showing! Great job sir. Like one of the other comments, your box looks better than a lot of the "pros" I've seen wired up.
I thought they made a foam gasket for just this problem. If not, a grinder or cutting tool of some sort will take down the box. Plenty of screw hole left for the receptacle.
I admit that prongs up LOOKS right but the SAFEST is Ground UP because anything dropping across the plugged in cable will strike the ground first NOT the hot prongs. However that is kind of hard to do to strike a cable near the wall and pull it out slightly enough to allow clearance to the prongs enough to create a short across the plugs' prongs. Hard to do unless you're a child with a table knife sliding the knife down the wall.... Yeah, kids find a way.
The main difference being that residential plugs are made for the "smiley" orientation. I prefer gnd on top instead. If a plug is not fully seated, the first point of contact is NOT the hot leg if something falls from above.
you can put spacers behind the top plates . maibe 3d print those just make them so there a little smaller behind the top plate with a small plate sized resess and a little wider ate the wall side ciontinuin the curved edge on the original top plate , they still stick out but at least they sit tight against the wall as for wiring up the subpanel : i usually make a small loop usually arounf the handle of the screwdriver ) in the wire beore makeing the bend intoo the fuse , this leaves you a little extra length in wire should you need to move things around as for the heater thermastads , these work with a small bimetal switch and are not realy acurate , they allso tent to melt and keep the heater running , it be better to use a realay between the high amp side (heater) and a digital type thermostad , they have real fancy ones that are on a timer and can be hooked up to wifi and bluetooth so they switch the heat to low when youre not in there , can make it so the heaters turn on one after the other so the peak current stays low
Been doing electrical over 30 years. You can use the oscillating tool to trim the front of the box flush. I have had to do that when wall coverings changed. As for the receptacles I always tell people I put it then that way so the electricity will not fall out. 😂. Very nice shop. Keep up the great work.
Brilliant!! I really appreciate you sharing this REAL Pro Tip!!
Buy a cheap oscillating tool from harbor freight and trim your boxes tight to wall.
Beat me to it. Trim it. Just fine
@pgogel8974 I bought a cheap oscillating tool from harbor freight 7 years ago I use it all the time I'm glad I saved about $100.00
They also make a deep outlet cover that will cover up to a 5/32 gap, and a extra deep cover that will cover up to 1/2" gap.
Use one of those fancy lasers and cut out a decorative trim piece to put behind those outlet plates
I thought the same thing. Be sure to show us, Sam.
Or try goof plates
@@edhibbard2348 lol, i would've caulked it
That’s a great idea
I was just about to make the same suggestion.
Former electrician here. In residential construction, an upside-down outlet indicates a half-hot outlet. Meaning 1 side is constant hot, 1 is switched. Another time to install the outlet upside-down is if the plate covers are metal. Usually in commercial/industrial work. The idea being if the cover comes loose and falls off with something plugged in, the metal cover will fall onto the ground post and not across the hot and neutral. But hey, it's your shop. Do your thing.
BTW-The panel looks fantastic. Better than many "pro" jobs I've seen. If you did need more circuits you could always get thin mount breakers or quads for the 240V locations.
Some folks, myself included, would pig tail from the romex run to the receptacle rather than running the outlet in-line in the circuit. Obviously, what you've done is sufficient and should work just fine.
As a guy who was shocked pretty badly many years ago, I am terrified of electrical work. I always appreciate DIY'ers who can tackle these jobs. Great work Sam.
Place a nicely finished frame of paint stick stirrers to fill that gap.
Add a fome the plat
Great work Sam. I did my own electric as well and the only thing I did different is in the first receptacle you wired up in the video I would have done blacks together and whites together and then pigtailed to one screw. Only reason is if a receptacle fails it will not allow power to the rest of the circuit down from the failure this way you no wheee your failed outlet is. I think I explained that right. But I’m like you not a pro at all
Nothing in the NEC book states Ground Up or Down for duplexes. Just be consistent.
I was trained to put the ground down in case the ground wire comes loose.
As a former IT person I’m loving the very neat and labeled wiring in that box. I remember you doing the same when working on wiring in the house. 🙌 Question is: are you as ocd as me that alllllllll the groves in the screws on the outlet covers have to perfectly horizontal??!!!! 😳😳😳🤓
I'm former IT too! Anytime I wire a panel like this I have flashbacks of patch panels, punchdowns, and the good ole Fluke meter chasing stranded pairs. :D I want to be OCD over the screw heads, but they always seem to fight me.
Can you use your CNC router one day to make some 1/4” thick frames to go around the electrical boxes and behind the outlet covers?
Hey Sam if you have any paneling scraps left over you could make little frames around them which would bring them out more.
you could use a Dremel tool with a cutting disc and cut the boxes flush.
Nope! Bad idea! he would cut the holes down that hold the receptacle screws, this would cause the screws to bottom out before the receptacle was tight against the box.🤯🛫
😊
I've done it myself, No problem with shorter screws. They can be cut also if you don't have shorter ones@@TheFalconJetDriver
I've been told that installing the outlets, the orientation you did (upside down), has a additional benifit that I would not have thought of. The reasoning I was given, from a local electrician, was that it is safer due to the ground being up if something was to drop into or touch while pluging in or out and it not hitting a hot wire. Take that with a grain of salf and to each his own. But it does make some sense. I am enjoying seeing your build out and have learned a few good tricks. THANKS
Code doesn't specify, but I've seen where OSHA has made companies change them to ground down for two reasons: 1. It's easier to accidentally break the ground connector off if it's up. 2. Most AC -DC adapters with ground need it ground down. We always spec ground down on building plans.
Take some walnut and cut it in small 1/4” strips and build a frame around your boxes and then put your outlet cover plates on. It will fix the issue and look cool.
Put a wood spacer about 1/2" around each outlet bevel the edges so they taper in and it will have a real nice look , and that's my suggestion. I enjoy your videos keep up the good work,
Also, that panel is one of the most professional looking panels I have seen that is how I used to wire my panels, including the little jackets, telling what the wire is coming from very very good job
Cut out a little border trim piece so to build out the wall to the socket level. It will solve the asthetic problem
Easy to fix. Happens more than you know. Use an oscillating tool and cut the boxes flush with the wallboard. You will still be able to mount your receptacles normally.
Cool, thanks!!
The ground on high on the high side of the receptacle when you put the receptacle in is actually the correct way for the receptacle to sit also on a stab in on the back if you have a 12 amp wire, and you want to try to stab in the back on a 15 amp plug. It is not allowed and most almost every inspector will tell you to change it but you can use it a regularreceptacle if you put your wires around the screw terminals
Actually, you could get the outlet insulators to put behind those plates, that would take up that space and help prevent drafts.
Nice video! As many have mentioned, you could make outlet cover spacer-plates out of wood using your LASER cutter. If you do so consider also engraving the panel/circuit breaker number that serves the outlet on the spacer. This is very handy for troubleshooting, expanding your lab, or locking out equipment.
2:25 print some 3d printed shims that are the same as the covers. If you use petg you could vapor smooth to get a smooth texture as the faceplate. You could potential colour code them to 20amp and 15amp etc.
Make a wood bezel to go around the outlet box, about a 1/4 inch past the outlet cover. I like ground down when used for extension cords because of how i grip the plug, thumb on the flat and the index finger around the ground side.
Hi sam Barry from the UK here, I know the UK regulation standard's and wiring are different from the US, bur for your problem where you used paneling, can you make your own packing plate in wood or plastic, to go behind your covers, using your different cover plates as a template to keep the size the same, also here in the UK the power outlets are very different, nearley always they have switch's on them so you can disconnect the power to any appliance by simply turning the switch to off as the cover and switch are all one unit, we can get them without switches also, plus our switches you put them down for on and up for off, this includes light switches as well, our 13amp plugs are well known for being probably the safest plug in the world, look them up to see their features.
Coming alive now. Getting closer. You’re doing great. Cheers. 😊
Sam, my only critique is the fact you did not make pigtails up in the middle circuits for the receptacles. You should never depend on a device to continue a circuit. Best practice is to make up a pigtail and have each individual receptacle connected that way, if for some reason the device gets damaged, you do not lose continuity throughout the rest of the circuit. As far as the grounding pin being up or down it is just an aesthetic decision .I was an electrician in a hospital and we were required to install the grounding pins downward. Keep up the great work and I know you’ll enjoy the new shop.
sam take your buzz saw and cut the nails on the stud side of your outlet boxes reset them and drywall screw the box back in or you could cut you out some medallion type things to square up the outlets i wired houses for 35 years in eastern nc and all our outlets went in ground up
You have come a long way , Good for you. Just about done just have some details to finish it up. Have fun.
I CAN'T JUSTIFY ANY REASON TO INSTAL OUTLETS UPSIDE DOWN. I THINK THEY LOOK OUT OF PLACE THAT WAY. BUT I LOVE THE IDEA TO TRIM THE BOX BACK . NICE JOB IN THE PANEL , AND GOOD IDEA HAVING LABLES UNDER COVER. THANKS.
You could get weather stripping foam & put it around the plug boxs,behind the covers. It will help keep the cold air coming in around the boxs.
Theoretically it don't matter, what matters is you got the wires in the proper location on receptacles..... I'm 3rd generation electrician, started out as a summer helper with the union , although I choose a different Ave cause u grew up , my first receptacle I changed out HOT was 8 yrs old with my dad's supervision watching over me , so I'd say your ok... there is a difference in commercial and residential... I've done both a lot in ghe Houston area , being a licensed electrician has its perks ..... your doing good 👍
Beautiful wiring job on that panel. Made this grown man almost shed a tear...
Installing outlets with the ground up is better for the cord. Gravity is constantly pulling the cord toward the floor. If it sags with ground on the bottom, you have potential for the hot or neutral to arc as they pull out of the plug. With ground up, the ground has the highest chance of backing out of the plug. With zero current flowing through the ground, this is the safer option.
If you ever wanted to, you could add a decorative trim around your shop at outlet height to fill those gaps. In the meantime, that gap is aesthetic.
To straighten the outlet, you can also stick a trim screwdriver in the ground hole near the middle of the outlet and use the screwdriver as a lever to move the outlet back and forth until straight.
Have plugs that side load and that is not so good for cords. Contractors who wired addition a few years back did outlets your way and I don't like them. Have also heard some do those upside downs if the outlet is switch controlled.
@@Messymy what do you mean by side load?
Electricity doesn’t care which end is up. As long as connections are tight to keep arcing from occurring, it’s really just a matter of preference.
The exception being outlets mounted sideways on a backsplash where water has potential to rise…. Then you gotta think, do I not want water to hit the hot so mount hot side up? Or do I want it to short out as soon as possible and kill the power instead of letting the water rise higher before it trips the breaker and mount it hot side down? But even that scenario is a stretch as most cases you’re not going to have liquid that high unless the house floods… in which case main power is likely (hopefully) already tripped/lost.
@@Messymy if by side load you mean the outlets are sideways, then I agree. I don’t care for these as it exerts forces on the prongs in a sideways direction and over time could bend them.
I think probably what triggers me, and most people is we’re just not used to them being upside down there is no right or wrong answer but as far as people doing research if you go to the manufacturers website which it doesn’t really matter what brand just google Leviton for example, you don’t even have to go to their site just Google them and click on images you will see 99% of their images are the opposite way from Sam’s devices most have writing on them they’re even packaged the opposite direction but at the end of the day there’s no right or wrong whatever you like.
Ground down is the only way that works with the 90 degree plugs found on many appliances so is recomended orientation by those manufacturers. Ground up is often used to indicate that an outlet or couple outlets are on a switch in residential situations. I worked six years in healthcare and government facilities going around testing every outlet with equipment and special computer program. If any were oriented ground up it would be an automatic fail and there would be delays because a qualified electrician would have to come back in and make all repairs or changes needed then they would have to rearange for plugs to be tested a second time.
Code 406.6 states that the cover must seat against the mounting surface. So , as many have suggested, make a trim piece to fill the gap. The code does not specify which way to mount the outlet - ground up or ground down are both legal.
A great video as usual.
Just a FYI if you're not aware, they DO make deeper plates for just this exact issue with the electrical.
Sam trim the fronts of the boxes off with multi/oscillating tool. Had to do it once when I miss judged the thickness of tile backer and tile. Worked like a charm.
Home Depot has some outlets covers which have a fat lip for this purpose when the outlet sticks out
As for right side up or to some, upside down, orienting receptacles with the ground up is the best way to install them. Why you ask? Because if a tool, paper clip etc is ever dropped and a plug isn’t quite in it’ll hit the ground and typically just keep falling. If it was the other way around it could fall and stay there shorting across the hot and common wire. Either way it could trip the breaker but you’re less likely try grabbing whatever it is before the breaker trips. This is how it was explained to me on a commercial job by an electrician.
That's the way to protect it
I thought it was kinda wonky until I got it. Klein Tools Rapi-Driv Screwdriver 67100. If you are doing electrical this this is sooooo handy. I love seeing the progress. Keep it up!
Sam, Crank up the Shapeoko and Carve and cut you some outlet covers and pocket the back where they will lay flat.
Design and 3D print new covers or design a back transition plate for the current covers.
use a piece of lam an make backing plates for the outlets. paint them up almost be gone. look better then the outlets just hangin
Nice job Sam. Looks better than many 'professional' jobs I've seen. Excellent!
My question would be that as you put up your wallboard and noticed this issue, why didn’t you just reset the boxes? What you can do is make some wood extensions to cover this error. Looking good so far. 😊
If only he knew someone with a workshop full of tools who could create such a spacer or extension 😛 If anyone can do it Sam can.
That was an amazing video. You outdid yourself again, and your skill perceived you💯🔥🔥🔥🔥
I appreciate that!
Love your videos and enjoy watching them. May the lord bless and protect you and your family
A laser and some 1/4 plywood would work well to make a filler plate. A rectangle plate with laser engraved information on what tool is plugged into that fixture could be a fun add-on. You could patent it as "single gang new work box trim art."...😂lol
You are amazing Sam, we have been watching your channel for quite a while and you have done a great job tackling everything. This workshop build has been amazing to watch, especially how you have learned so much to be able to Get'r Done working mostly by yourself.
15:05 just make a box to put around like a hidden cable tray.
Put trim around them. Use what you put on the walls 😊
I am an industrial electrician according to the NEC you did it right it's the not so smart people that do not know the reason for putting the ground up.
I did the same thing on the last build I did. So i cut out some 1/4" plywood plates to fit over the box then held them on with the cover plates. Later before painting wd caulked around those which held the in place and once painted you could barely see them. I cut mine by hand with a jigsaw but if you have a laser that will cut it its easy peasy.
Just use your lasers to make washer-style spacers to go under the plate get around the box to make
A flush fit will just make for a unique look
use the foam insulation for outlets .just cut it out to just cover the gap
2023 code. If your instructions that came with the outlet specifically says (not just a picture) ground up or down that is how it must be installed. Otherwise the code does not care. Now in some counties (yes, code is usually decided by the county) in commercial or hospital settings grounds are up or down depending, usually according to use. In some areas in residential installations ground down is normal and the ground up means the outlet is on a switch. So if your instructions say ground up you have installed according to code. If they don't say then up, down, left or right are all fine according to the 2023 code book which I doubt anyone has adopted, yet. 😊
Sam, did install an 1to 1 isolation harmonic transformer on your computer equipment so you can operate things at the same time.
In theory the ground on top is supposed to keep the plug in place. My shop is done the same.
Great job Sam installing the outlets and box!!!😊
Make some Samcraft 1/4” back plates for your wall receptacles, it will look cool
Build a quarter inch wood trim piece around each one.
I always put tape covering the wire conections
Easy fix, 3 d print cover backing spacers same color or whatever desired…
That is looking mighty nice. Can’t wait to see your layout.
Your power points are nothing like ours in Australia. We have on/off switches on ours . Also your light switches are opposite to ours. Ours are up for off, down for on.
They also sell trim rings for the boxes so the plates fit properly
@2:00 you can find deep bezel wall plates at the big box hardware stores (for about the same price as standard) and/or bezel spacers to hide this gap.
Thanks Sam! Getting close to move in! So excited for you and Angela!
Very professional looking job Sam 👍, as for the outlets you could always CNC or Laser cut some fancy frames and put your Logo on them, making it truly a custom build.
Good job Sam you explain it 👍good
I like the comment that says make you a decorative surround for your cover plates. Might as well display some of your work in the workshop and it solves a “problem”.
My receptacles are sideways
In our area I understand it is code to put the sockets in like you did, so you did good. Also get some 1/4 inch wood and make a frame around the box to have no space behind the plate. All problems solved.
Make decretive 1/4 inch thick wood things that go around your boxes. like frame them in like a picture... urn your outlets so the ground face down.. Yes I know many have their own opinions on this. Electrical code does not states orientation but take it from experience all items made in North America are made to fit the outlets with the ground down...Ground up is the old way they did things that is why many factories and ld houses had the ground up but their is a lot of engineers talk about the benefits of having the ground down
Nice one Sam.
I'm a licensed electrician and general contractor and on commercial I usually install up and residential down because that's how most people have seen the outlets oriented.
The reason the outlets are installed "upside down" is for safety, it has nothing to do with how plugs are oriented. If ground is up and the plug is somewhat out of the wall, something slides down there, it hits ground, no trouble. If it's oriented the other way, then the item crosses the hot and neutral and causes a short, spark, possible fire. Homes should also have them installed that way. Any electrical done in the past decade or so in a residential will be that way also. Where I live it's code, they have to be. You also shouldn't use a power drill to for electrical, you're bound to strip something. They make box spacers to deal with that 1/4 gap or some 1/2x1/4 wood bits and a chop saw.
You can also use that 240 for a welder now that you have some farm equipment that might need some repair. Or doing any fabrication.
Buy some outlet cover insulation / gaskets. no more space.
Sam take you laser and cut out like picture frames to go behind the outlets either make them flush with the edge of the plate or make them go out a quarter inch or so and paint them a different color to highlight them.
Cool think outside of the box . How about different shapes triangles circles diamonds possibilities are endless
Use the oscillating saw to trim boxes back 1/4 inch flush with wall I’ve did it before
Hey Sam!! With your laser engraver i am sure you could make some decorative plates to fill in the gap behind your electric outlet covers.
Just cut out some piece of moulding like a picture frame and install behind the plate.
Yay for success!!!
I look forward to seeing all your toys set up and organized for your first project!🎉
Happy playing! ✌️💖🙏🤜
I think I saw a bonding screw in your panel. Did you leave the neutral and ground bonded? Just curious why if so?
Is that paper sleeving over the wires?, never seen that over here in the UK..... hmmmm that would make it easier to strip.
There is no upside down or not for outlets. The reason some outlets are ground up is for safety because if something falls on it, it will hit the ground first. Most hospitals have them ground up. It’s definitely not wrong and neither is ground down.
@12:18 You better cover that. Your OCD is showing! Great job sir. Like one of the other comments, your box looks better than a lot of the "pros" I've seen wired up.
Sweet! Its amazing how fast you are getting this done! It looks sooo good!
Thank you!! 😊
I thought they made a foam gasket for just this problem. If not, a grinder or cutting tool of some sort will take down the box. Plenty of screw hole left for the receptacle.
You can buy stacked breaker or piggy back breakers. It allows 2 ckts on the same breaker slot in the panel, if u ran out of space in panel
I admit that prongs up LOOKS right but the SAFEST is Ground UP because anything dropping across the plugged in cable will strike the ground first NOT the hot prongs. However that is kind of hard to do to strike a cable near the wall and pull it out slightly enough to allow clearance to the prongs enough to create a short across the plugs' prongs. Hard to do unless you're a child with a table knife sliding the knife down the wall.... Yeah, kids find a way.
Maybe you make a spacer to set behind the wall plate?
If I’m laying tile I’ll set the boxes exactly as you have them. Maybe tile?
The main difference being that residential plugs are made for the "smiley" orientation. I prefer gnd on top instead. If a plug is not fully seated, the first point of contact is NOT the hot leg if something falls from above.
you can put spacers behind the top plates . maibe 3d print those just make them so there a little smaller behind the top plate with a small plate sized resess and a little wider ate the wall side ciontinuin the curved edge on the original top plate , they still stick out but at least they sit tight against the wall
as for wiring up the subpanel : i usually make a small loop usually arounf the handle of the screwdriver ) in the wire beore makeing the bend intoo the fuse , this leaves you a little extra length in wire should you need to move things around
as for the heater thermastads , these work with a small bimetal switch and are not realy acurate , they allso tent to melt and keep the heater running , it be better to use a realay between the high amp side (heater) and a digital type thermostad , they have real fancy ones that are on a timer and can be hooked up to wifi and bluetooth so they switch the heat to low when youre not in there , can make it so the heaters turn on one after the other so the peak current stays low
Sam use you engraver to make some new covers
Just put a small border around it. About 1 inch surround 1/8 or 1/4 inch thick, either glued down or the plate holds it on.