2007-12-22 07:44:32 · 9 answers · asked by jfish1000 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
You just need to change the cord.
If going from a 3 prong to a 4 prong cord you must remove the 3 prong cord and install the 4 prong cord. You must remove the bonding jumper between neutral and ground, then attach the neutral and ground wires to their respective terminals. This should be covered in the installation instructions with your dryer.
When you do change the cord on the back of the dryer from a 4 prong to 3 prong you must bond the ground and neutral together with a bonding strap. This should be covered in the dryer manual or possibly a sticker attached to the back of the dryer.
The 3 prong arrangement came about in WW2. An exception was made in the NEC to allow the frames of ranges and dryers to be grounded by bonding to the neutral of the cord. This saved copper for the war effort.
However this exception was not removed until the 1996 NEC code cycle when all new installations were required to use a 4 wire arrangement where the neutral and ground were separated.
The 120V loads found in ranges and dryers are very small, just the dryers drum motor and any electronics or light bulbs. So using the neutral to bond the frames of ranges and dryers was not of much concern.
The NEC is NOT retroactive so installations that have a 3 wire circuit are not required to be removed and a 4 wire circuit installed.
So in summary if going from a 4 prong to a 3 prong cord you must install a bonding jumper to effectively ground the range or dryer frame.
If going from a 3 prong to a 4 prong cord you must remove the bonding jumper between neutral and ground, then attach the neutral and ground wires to their respective terminals.
2007-12-22 09:19:10 · answer #1 · answered by David B 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
David has it , you have a 240v dryer and it is used that u bought, and has a 3 prong plug 2(hots) and a ground, in the old days they would use the gorund as the neutral for the motor , because it was not present with a 3 prong. as in a 4 wire prong , 2hots, 1 neutral, 1 ground =4
so now the motor has its own neutral to work off of. and its more safe now for u as a consumer to use, so if u have a fault in the dryer u wont get a shock when u touch something grounded or yourself the breaker will trip.
2007-12-23 14:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by kirkychoctaw 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A NEW DRYER. NEW DRYERS DON'T COME WITH A CORD. NEW DRYER INSTALLATION BOOKLET SHOWS YOU THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A 4 CONDUCTOR CORD BUT YOU MAY HOOK IT UP WITH A 3 COND. CORD IF THAT'S WHAT IS IN THE HOUSE. DID YOU BUY A DRYER AND ALSO BUY A CORD SEPARATELY?
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE HOUSE IS NEWER THAN THE DRYER SINCE IT IS WIRED TO THE NEWER CODE WITH A 4 CONDUCTOR WALL OUTLET.
I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE TAKING A 3 WIRE OUTLET OUT AND PUT IN A 4 WIRE WALL OUTLET IN STILL WITH ONLY 3 WIRES INSIDE THE WALL. ALL BECAUSE THEIR DRYER HAD A 4 WIRE PLUG AND THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. ---WHEN THEY MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT HOUSE.
2007-12-25 23:24:07 · answer #3 · answered by hghjsln 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The new appliance may only require 110volts. If the plug looks like one you would see on a drill or saw, the appliance uses 110 volts.
If not, you can purchase a 4 prong plug for about $10 at Lowes or Home Depot.
2007-12-22 15:49:41 · answer #4 · answered by BPTDVG 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
most all new appliances come with the the 3 prong plugs now....older homes have 4 prong outlets....I think the 4 prong pigtails are still available...If not...installing a new 3 prong outlet isn't that difficult and won't require an electrician.(most of whom will charge you 65+ just to pull into your drive way)...Those things are pretty user friendly...complete with direction.
2007-12-22 16:06:26 · answer #5 · answered by Nathalie K 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
David B has a great answer. He explains it very well. I looked at this Q, and really couldn't find the words to answer correctly. He has done a fine job.
2007-12-23 11:19:02 · answer #6 · answered by gr8alarmguy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well when I first read this Q, I was thinking that there's prob a 3 prong plug that you can buy. After all, I lost something that only comes w/ it when you buy it... If you lose/misplace it, you can/gotta buy this other thing instead... It sucks..
2007-12-22 15:52:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
By the sounds of it you have an old 3 phase outlet and you really do need an electrician.
2007-12-22 15:49:58 · answer #8 · answered by kitinhull 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋
MAKE SURE YOUR NOT PLUGGING A 110 APPLIANCE INTO A 220 RECEPTACLE!
2007-12-22 21:04:20 · answer #9 · answered by Big ''D'' 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋