![]() A newer dryer run on a 3-prong system is an electrical hazard at best, even if nothing goes wrong, and a disaster if there is a short or loose wire. Never fall for the big box store “handyman fix” and simply replace the plug attached to your dryer! This is against National Electrical Code standards and while it may be a quick and easy fix, its a risky move. The solution is to hire a local licensed electrician to install a new dedicated circuit and 4-prong outlet for your dryer so you can safely plug it in. ![]() Unfortunately, many homes still have obsolete (and dangerous) 3-prong dryer outlets. So, if there is ever a problem inside the dryer, the electricity gets diverted away from the dryer frame into the ground, which generally causes the breaker to trip in the meantime and prevents any additional electricity from flowing into the dryer. This wire provides a solid path from the metal frame of the dryer back to the panel and then outside to disperse safely into the earth. This problem was solved with the addition of the fourth wire (a ground). Potential current could not flow back to the panel through the bare wire and instead would flow through unsuspecting home owners. This created problems because when the bare wire became loose or there was damage to the neutral line coming into the home, the dryer could become one large metal electrocuting device. The bare wire was used as a ground and a neutral conductor. That one is designed to fit a 2-gang box. Pull the wire stripper toward the end of the cable to cut through the outer coating and expose the wires inside. Clamp a wire stripper around the outlet end of the 10/4 cable so it’s 1 foot (30 cm) from the end. ![]() You might have bought the wrong receptacle for this application. Remove 1 ft (30 cm) of the outer coating of the 10/4 cable. This can range from a three-pronged NEMA 5-15R to a four-pronged NEMA 14-30R. To start, you’ll need to know the type of socket used for the dryer plug. ![]() Knowing exactly what type of wire is required for the dryer plug can help you avoid costly mistakes. You replace the mud ring with a 'domed cover' that has flattened corners, which make solid clean-metal contact with the box. This helps ensure that your dryer plug is properly wired and safe to use. Wiring diagrams for a dryer plug will show you the exact specifications for each wire used in the installation process. You went to plug in your new dryer and, oddly, the plug did not fit! Your brand new appliance was suddenly nothing more than a useless (although fancy) ornament and you were looking at spending even more money to make it work.īefore 1996 dryers were wired with three conductors (two “hot” wires and one bare wire). You run a wire from the ground terminal to a ground clip or ground screw in the box. Your savings account was a bit lighter, but your laundry room had gotten an instant face lift and you would soon have dry clothes again. Electric dryers need to be plugged into a 240 volt, 60 Hz AC outlet with a 30-amp fuse or circuit breaker on both sides of the line. Soon you had a shiny new dryer in your home, ready to go. There are two types of cords: three wire cords and four wire cords. Did it happen to you? Your old dryer died and you decided it was time to upgrade. This page will walk you through the steps in installing and replacing a dryer cord. ![]()
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