240V Dryer outlet wiring?

Question

I'm having a problem with electric dryer. I decided to check the wiring for the 3-prong 240V outlet. The 2 black wires are 10 gauge but the 1 white wire is 12 gauge. We're experiencing problems with the dryer intermittently shutting off & blowing the circuit breaker. Could 12 gauge wire possibly be the cause of this problem? It doesn't seem worth rewiring the outlet unless there's a good chance that the 12 gauge is the problem. The dryer's power cord seems to be wired correctly. I guess there might be a problem with the dryer, but I'm trying to avoid replacing the dryer just to find out that I have a wiring problem.

Answer 1

How long have you had this particular dryer on this particular circuit? Unless it is just a few days, it is obvious that the 12 gauge wire is adequate, right? It is quite acceptable to have a smaller guage neutral wire.

Is anything else having a problem? How long before the breaker trips? When it trips, does anything else loose power or just the dryer? The washer for example.

If not, you could replace the breaker and see if it helps. Breakers do go bad. I'm guessing from this wiring configuration that it is fairly old too.

How old is the dryer? Any other problems with it? How long have you been having this problem?

The white is actually called the neutral, not the ground. Since you do not have a separate ground wire, it does serve that purpose also. The discussion is primaily theoretical, but calling it a ground really doesn't tell the correct story. BTW, It certainly does have current flowing through it, for the motor. The newest standard is to have a separate ground connection tied to the appliance frame.

We need more info unless you only want guesses and generic answers.

Answer 2

White is ground and perfectly adequate. The two black are hot 220 across them.

You will most probably need to take back off and see if the motor and the belt or drum isnt the problem. The motor is wired 110, that is across the white ground and one of the blacks either one is fine. See if that motor is hot. If so that is a capacator run motor and possibly its lost its capacatance and doesnt supply the increased jump in voltage needed to run the motor.

You can also inspect the 220 line thru the sequencer on there and onto the resistance coil. Check also that porcelean insulator between the heating coil and the metal mount surface.

Answer 3

Too thin a wire will NOT cause the circuit breaker to pop. Too thin a wire will cause the voltage to drop which will also cause the current to be less than spec.

Unless your house was wired and circuit breaker installed for far smaller unit, the likely problem is the circuit breaker itself. They do wear out and they are spring loaded device.

You must not be in the US.... (based on the wire color you mentioned) In 220 circuit, two thick wires carry current. The third wire is usually the ground wire that does NOT carry any current.

Answer 4

in case you checked for means on the opening, and it has the 240v, then the slots the place the plug plugs in are unfold aside. If no means at between the legs, then initiate tracing the cord back to the panel. attempt turning off each double pole breaker nevertheless on back. possibly you checked the incorrect breaker? The dryer twine itself could be undesirable.