I got a dryer this weekend with a regular (apparently) dryer electrical cord. According to the guy at the hardware store, it's a typical dryer 220v 30amp plug. It sort've looks like this...
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On the wall, I've got an outlet that apparently is typical for electric ovens... it's a 220v 50amp plug. It sort've looks like this...
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I went to see if they make an adaptor for that, then got a small electrical lesson. The hardware store guy sold me a new range cord that will match the 50 amp outlet, & said it would be OK to put on the dryer.
The switch looks easy enough, but on the box around the new cord, it says... "Do not use a 50amp or 45 mp cord with a dryer of lesser power rating. The 40amp cord is suitable for use with dryers rated 35amp or 40amp only."
I asked the dude at the store if it would be OK on the dryer even though the amperage was different. He said yes... am I OK here? If not, what are my options? Thanks in advancce!!!
2006-11-27 15:27:05 · 4 answers · asked by eric_aixelsyd 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The hardware guy said the other option is changing the outlet... which I don't want to do. What controls the amperage? Is there a way to get a cord that will go into the plug & get the right amperage to the dryer?
2006-11-27 15:29:54 · update #1
If the dryer requires a 30 amp circuit, you should operate it from a 30 amp breaker. The 50 amp outlet and cord are perfectly fine for the lower rating. The wire is larger than the minimum size required for a 30 amp circuit, but this is perfectly safe as well. The potential safety issue is that if there is a problem within the dryer, it will require much more current to open the 50 amp breaker than if it were fed via a 30 amp breaker. Change out the breaker and then decide whether you want to change the cord or the outlet to get the system working.
You can use an outlet of a higher rating than the circuit breaker without concern. If you were to go the other way, using a 30 amp outlet on a 50 amp circuit there could be problems.
2006-11-28 12:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by Warren914 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is there no 120V outlet in your garage? The easiest thing would be to run an extension cord from that. As for the 220V, that might be a dryer plug or stove plug. If the place was a machine shop previously, maybe it's 3-phase, but I doubt it. Get a voltmeter and measure - there might be a neutral in that plug, and you could wire from there to one of the hot wires and get 120 volts.
2016-05-23 16:21:20 · answer #2 · answered by LucyMarie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as you do not change the breaker of fuse size in the panel box then even though you have a 50 amp plug it is still fused at 30 amps and it will be ok
2006-11-27 15:38:26 · answer #3 · answered by outg426 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
t5g
2014-08-30 07:58:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋