Is there anyway I can get get it adapted without calling an electrician to change out the outet?
2006-10-18 07:42:47 · 16 answers · asked by kcbrown1979 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You can go to home depot or lowes and by a new dryer cord that matches the outlet on the wall. They are no more than 20 bucks and super easy to change yourself. Just look at where the cord goes into the back of the dryer and there should be a little plate where the cord and dryer meet. Just unscrew that plate and replace with the new cord, just make sure you take note of what color wire goes where......its actually really simple.
2006-10-18 07:47:31 · answer #1 · answered by Win the West!!!! 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This depends on the type of outlet.
If the 3-prong outlet on your wall is the "regular" kind, with two flat vertical blades, and one ground, then it is for 120V. Dryers run on 240V, so no adapter will work since you need a different voltage. If your house is already wired for 240V, then an electrician or qualified person can put in a new outlet. If your house is not, then you'll have to contact the your power company.
If the 3-prong outlet on your wall has all of the blades on an angle, then there is the correct voltage (240); however, your dryer has an additional prong for ground. This problem is more easily fixed.
I doubt you'll be able to find a ready-made adapter for this application, but you can easily make one by getting the female version of the dryer's plug and the male version of the wall's outlet. There are many DIY plugs of this sort at your local hardware store. You open the plug and connect the wires from one to the other. Make sure to connect the right ones, as they may not always be color coded. The extra ground wire can be connected to a cold water pipe or hard-wired to another outlet's wire.
This last suggestion assumes that you have a basic knowledge of electrical work. If you do not or have doubts, you could cause a short circuit and a possible fire. Do not attempt it if you don't understand the wiring.
2006-10-18 07:58:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
If your new house is 10 years old or older it will have a three prong outlet for a 240VAC circuit (leg 1, leg 2 and ground). Neutral and ground are then bonded together inside the dryer with a strap or wire where the cord terminates on the dryer.
Go the hardware store and get a three prong 240VAC cord of the same current rating (probably 30amp) and open electrical access plate on the back of the dryer. You will see that the cord is terminated on black (leg 1), red (leg 2), white (neutral) and green (ground).
Take off the 4-wire cord and bond the neutral and ground lugs in the dyer with a 10 AWG or larger bond wire. Connect the new three prong cord by connecting black to black, red to red and green to green.
If this is confusing you aren't ready to try this yourself- call an appliance repair shop and have them come out and do it for you. You CANNOT replace the receptacle in the wall because there is no neutral wire present in the wire- it wasn't required when your house was built.
Brendan
2006-10-18 13:06:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to this site, and it explains with pictorials. http://fixitnow.com/appliantology/dryercords.htm
I would personnally buy a three prong cord at the hardware store and convert to a three prong configuration. Wiring the dryers strap to the neutral will be safe. The guys that set these codes just want to make people think they are making things safer - it is a racket. The other option is to replace the three prong outlet with a 4 prong. The cord replacement is the easiest and least costly. I hope this helps.
2006-10-18 08:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by Doug R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The issue of the neutral line has been ignored or been incorrect in the other answers. The dryer may use a 120V motor, 120V light bulb, and 120V timer. The fourth wire would be neutral to operate these parts safely. It can be made to work with only three wires, but not in a safe manner. The former dryer may have been wired incorrectly as well. You need to do more research on the compatibility of the dryer to operate at 240V only. If it requires the neutral conductor your best option is to install a new four conductor wire from the electrical panel and install a new 4 conductor outlet.
Connecting the neutral and ground conductors within the dryer will cause current to flow on the ground conductor and the chassis of the dryer. The chassis must not be used as a return current conductor. This is unsafe and should not be done! If an electrician or appliance technician wants to connect things in this manner throw them out on the steps, do not let them touch your dryer.
Simply wiring to a 3 wire cord without further knowledge and research is risky at best. Anyone at the hardware store who hands you a new 3 conductor cord is being irresponsible.
Don't mess with electricity. Used with respect it is perfectly safe and a great tool. However if treated improperly it has the potential to burn and kill. Treat it with respect and you will be safe and happy.
2006-10-18 09:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by Warren914 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All those brave advice givers urging you to do it yourself should consider your skill level and self confidence with this type of work.
A 220 Volt AC line can be dangerous and if wired incorrectly, it can give you a nice shock by touching your dryer.
Yes, you can get the right cord at Home Depot or elsewhere, but be sure you know what you are doing or you'll cause your breaker to popp or you can start a fire. BE CAREFUL and dont be so ready to take advice from people not there to help you but are free with their deadly advice.
BE CAREFUL with 220 VOLT AC rewiring !!!
2006-10-18 13:17:53 · answer #6 · answered by Stop NWO 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The cord on many dryers are different. Go to the hardware or home improvment stor and buy a new cord for your dryer( to match outlet). They are not hard to change, you don't need and electrician
2006-10-18 07:47:17 · answer #7 · answered by crazyme 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can actually have someone change the dryer cord to a three prong cord. You can get these at your local hardware store. I would have someone that knew what they were doing to do it though.
2006-10-18 07:51:17 · answer #8 · answered by saved_by_grace 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can go to your local hardware store and purchase a new cord for the dryer. Most dryers will have a diagram showing you where to connect the wires on the new cord.
2006-10-18 07:51:00 · answer #9 · answered by Jingerelle 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you don't have to change the outlet all you have to do is change out the cord which isn't very hard,and not much just go to any hardware store or appliance store & they should have it with the directions.
2006-10-18 07:51:00 · answer #10 · answered by Wish 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋