Author	[Modern View]
George Marsh 08-17-2012 12:16:47 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	About 3 months ago I purchased a new ref with ice maker. Put a cheap water alarm from HF on the floor behind the ref next to where the water line connects. Put a brick on top of the sensor to hold it in place and to prevent from pushing the ref all the way back. I walked in the door today and what a racket. I had forgotten about the alarm, but the closer I got to the ref, it became clear what was going on. I've known 3 people have water damage because a wash machine screws up, a water softener screws up, and my sister was in Florida for 3 weeks last winter when her pipes froze, broke and flooded her house. Insurance paid off, but it was still very expensive for her, not to meniton months to repair. So, I found another alarm on line that not only makes noise, but there is a small 1 amp micro switch that makes contact when the alarm goes off. I purchased a 20 amp GFCI, used thermostat wire, connect a wire to the ground side of the GFCI and the other wire to the neurtal side of the GFCI. Ran both wires back to the water sensor's micro switch. I can't tell anyone why, but if you touch the ground to neurtal on a GFCI, it will trip it. The GFCI is acting like a relay that is normally closed. Most motors and GFCI's don't get along. When the motor starts the GFCI trips. Well I got lucky, my 3/4 hp pump didn't trip the GFCI when it starts or for that matter while it is running. I also installed same device on a 1/2 pump that is in the well under water. I didn't think this work, but it does. My circuit on the 3/4 hp pump worked for about 6 months with out a problem. Came in the house after having breakfast at the local ROMEO dinner, and heard this racket coming from the basement. Again, I had forgotten I installed the water sensor. Well, it worked as I had planned. My water softener had produced a leak. Very little water leaked on the floor. The water pressure on the pump was at zero, because other things are using water from my well. It took two beach towels to dry up the mess. The first pic is a HF water alarm. The second will be the water sensor with a switch and the third is my GFCI. Is my receptical upside down in the third pic? I'm glad I installed water sensors. They have saved me a lot of time and repairs. George [Reply]   [No Email]
Dusty MI 08-18-2012 04:11:37 76.247.130.219 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   The code does not specify which way. Union electricians in one local will all place them the same way, but one local will but them one way and another local will put them the other way. I've read where if you plug a heavy cord in, because of it's weight, it will stay plugged in better if the ground is up. Dusty [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-18-2012 05:08:43 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to Dusty MI, 08-18-2012 04:11:37   Dusty, Always wondered about that. Thanks George [Reply]  [No Email]
NCWayne 08-17-2012 22:06:45 69.40.232.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   If you look at it with plumbing as a refference, when positioned like your is the receptical is right because the Positive/HOT wire is on the left and the Neutral/COLD wire is on the right. Beyond that I've seen recepticals positioned 'upside down' very few times in residential construction. On the other had I've been in several hospitals in several states, and in every one of them the 120V recepticals area all positoned with the 'monkey's face' upside down just like yours is. [Reply]  [No Email]
huntingreen2day2 08-17-2012 21:28:51 24.51.49.66 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   What is an upside down receptacle? In my case it is one that has been put in opposite than all the rest in the building. Wired hundred of houses and never turned one over because it was turned on by a switch. [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-17-2012 17:01:51 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   The reason I asked the question about the recpt, is that sometimes you get things like a night light and the way I wired it is correct. I got an item from China today and it's upside down. Put on a room addition in 2011 and a union electrican wired it, favor to his mother. In Indiana that outlet is up side down. Not sure if there is code, as mentioned it really doesn't matter. There are times I reverse the plug to make it work on what I'm plugging in. Just wondered if the way union electricians do things vary from state to state. George [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick2 08-17-2012 16:06:35 174.26.218.15 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   Normally an upside down receptacle indicates that the receptacle is controlled by a switch. At least that is the way that electricians wire them in new houses. [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean Feeney 08-17-2012 15:58:50 174.63.127.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   Many years ago I traveled a lot for work went to bed one night at hotel, couple hours later awoke with sparks shooting from along side of bed and nightstand, metal outlet cover had falling down and was arcing on lamp plug never tripped a breaker. startled the heck out of me i install with ground up. [Reply]  [No Email]
Russ from MN 08-17-2012 17:03:53 68.235.89.1 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to Sean Feeney, 08-17-2012 15:58:50   Another good reason never to use a metal cover! I was told by an inspector to put ground down. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen 08-17-2012 15:54:31 69.26.17.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   " Is my receptical upside down in the third pic?" I have two freezers, side by side in my garage, the socket that powers both of them is right in my line of sight every time I use the car. Both freezers have the factory original power cord and plug. One plug has the ground on the same side as the cord, the other has it opposite the cord, so one cord hangs straight down while the other must make a 180 degree loop to hang down Maybe I should have mounted the GFCI socket laying on it's side, then both would be half right. LOL ;-) [Reply]  [No Email]
GeneSC 08-17-2012 12:36:27 64.139.224.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:16:47   The power doesn"t care if it"s upside-down or not LOL [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-17-2012 12:54:31 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to GeneSC, 08-17-2012 12:36:27   I know, asked the question because some people think it's upside down and other don't. What's your opinion, up or down? George [Reply]  [No Email]
greg1959 08-17-2012 13:23:09 69.176.13.178 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:54:31   I make sure to put receptacle so the plug will fit! LOL (just joking) Maybe the other suggestions are from people that flush mount plugs. Ya know, the ones that come on chest freezers and refrigerators where the cord comes into the side of the plug. In that case your receptacle is in upside down. You would want the ground plug to be on the bottom because the way the plug would line up in the outlet would have the cord coming up from the floor instead of coming in from the top and having to loop over. SWAG! [Reply]  [No Email]
evilboweviel 08-17-2012 13:16:21 75.185.55.222 Report to Moderator	Re: Water alarm was going off. in reply to George Marsh, 08-17-2012 12:54:31   it is correct [Reply]  [No Email]