Please help me...need to change out a cord on an electric dryer...?

Question

I just moved to a new place, and the outlet for my dryer is for a 3 prong plug, but my dryer is equipped with a 4 prong cord. I assume it is easy to switch these out, but when I went to buy a new 3 prong cord, there are only 3 wires (non-color coded) to be placed on the posts. The 4 prong cord has 4 wires (one black, one red, one white, and the ground wire, I assume, which is green) Could anyone please let me know the proper way to wire this? I know this may sound a bit elementary, but I want to do it right, and not give myself a shock!! Any help will be greatly appreciated...Thanks!

Answer 1

hey larry, if the new three wire cord is flat, the center wire should be the common(white) wire. each of the outer wires will be a hot lead, either red or black, and should be interchangeable. this will line up with the leads as you look at the end of the cord from above, cord going down, terminals away from you. if the replacement dryer cord is round, you will need an ohm meter to identify which wire is which, if they are not color coded. if you want to add a ground wire to your dryer, you can buy a 6' length of wire(or long enough to reach your washers cold water supply pipe), a wire terminal to fit over either a screw on the back of the dryer cabinet or on the junction block where the green wire went, and a pipe clamp from your local hardware store. this is how it used to be done, before the four wire cords were used. this is how i have my dryer hooked up, too. good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 2

When electric clothes dryers first came out, they had three wire cords, such as yours. The Electrical Code in all it's infinite wisdom, decided to change this and make all 220 volt appliances have four wire cords. Their reasoning, I won't explain here, however I will try and get you through this. Looking at your three wire cord, there should be two fat wires (on the outsides) and a smaller one in the middle. The two fat ones are your red and black, "hot wires", the smaller one is your neutral/ground. Look at the terminal block on your dryer, you should have three terminals to put wires on, and a green screw on the frame. Re-install your three wire cord, and put a "jumper wire" between where the white wire goes and the green ground screw. There might allready be a jumper wire or metal strap that has just been moved out of the way. Basically, manufacturers used to combine the neutral and ground, now they must be separated. The jumper is used for three wire connections and not used for four wire connections. Hope this helps! Don't do anything unless the power is off! The better idea is to call a licensed electrician and get the outlet changed to a four wire style.

Answer 3

their all right but the dousche bag that posted first.. you could also change the wall outlet. 4 prong is for the "newer" codes that passed where the grounds and nuterals are seperate in the panel. as the one said the 3 prong will be flat.. 2 outer ones to black/red and center to white. your dryer wont have the copper bracket that went from the white terminal to the ground screw since it was removed when installed. (unless you kept it)

Answer 4

White and ground are the same... Common. Red and black are the hot leads... On a three wire cord, assuming 220v, one wire to black, one to red and the third (smaller one) to ground...

Good luck and be safe...

Answer 5

Congradulations!!!!!i'm sorry you cant fix that,but hear try putting the cords in another spot.if you cant you may have trade your whole machine in for one with tree cords well PEACE! you know you dont need to get shocked right!well BYE!