Need some help with a clothes dryer guys!

[BRPORSCHE]

One of my friends just got a new dryer. Her old one was a three prong, and she has a three prong outlet on her wall. The new dryer is a four prong. We took the three prong chord off of the old dryer and we were going to subsitute it onto the four plug dryer.

Make sense?

Thing is that I hate working with electricty. ***** scares me. The three prong chord will fit onto the new dryer, but there seems to be no chord. Do I need to go to Home Depot and buy some special three pronged wall side and a four pronged dryer side to hook it all up safely?

Here are some pics:
This is on the new(four) pronged dryer

[Danny_Ocean]

From the web:

But - this is because recent Code changes require that most (if not all) new dryers and stoves/ranges now have the 4 wire hook-up in NEW construction or recently built homes....so more and more manufacturers are making sure the dryers (and stoves) meet these new requirements. Unfortunately - most homes over a decade or two old do not have the 4 wire runs...

Where your home is almost 10 years old....it was built just BEFORE the Code changes went into effect....and more then likely only has the then minimum required 3 wire hook-up for the dryer.

IF you find that you have only a 3 wire feed for this dryer (and the reason for the 3 prong receptacle)...then you can not properly install a 4 prong dryer cord to it. You now have 2 choices....either rewire (assuming that it is a 3 wire supply) the entire run from the dryer breaker to the outlet location with 4 wire (typically a run of 8/3 with ground having a black, red, white and bare ground)and install a 4 prong dryer receptacle to match the configuration of the new dryers cord.....OR - you can remove the 4 wire cord and replace it with a 3 wire cord....re-using the ground strap - IF it is still in place.

NOTE: For more detail on the 3 wire hookup/4 wire hookup at the dryer end, see the images at the links at:
http://www.applianceaid.com/general.html#3to4

The choice is up to you....even a decade ago it was well known that the dryer and stove receptacles would soon all need to be 4 wire (having a seperate ground and neutral connection)...and we've been installing the 4 wire runs in all new homes for at least that long - apparently the electrician who wired your home wasn't aware of this pending fact....or hadn't read his/her updates. Where this is a fairly new home....I'd go with the wiring change out and install the proper 4 prong receptacle - and then you'd already be up to current Codes. Of course - where there is a grand-father rule in effect...you can always convert the dryer back to 3 wire....but down the road you won't be in Code compliance. (Some stores already no longer carry the 3 prong dryer and stove cords and receptacles...)

Th choice is up to you....but in either case....you are not "stuck" with this new dryer.....there IS a solution.

Hope this helps...please follow-up if you need more details.

Best Wishes,

Bob Osgood
Master Electrician

RKO ELECTRIC

www.rkoelectric.com

[craigster59]

That's 240v my friend, I hope youre not trying to hook it up to 120v outlet. You have 2 "hots" (Black, RED) a neutral (White) and a ground (Green). The black and red both need a separate 120v feed. EDIT: As Danny posted, if your outlet is a 240v you need to run a 4 wire feed. Not hard, but working with electrical can be interesting. You usually know right away when you've f'ed up.

[BRPORSCHE]

Here is a picture of the original three prong chord. See the lack of the ground strap. Is that going to be a problem?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by craigster59

That's 240v my friend, I hope youre not trying to hook it up to 120v outlet. You have 2 "hots" (Black, RED) a neutral (White) and a ground (Green). The black and red both need a separate 120v feed.

Most electric dryers are 120/240. The 240 powers the heating element while the 120 powers the control panel & interior light.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Here is a picture of the original three prong chord. See the lack of the ground strap. Is that going to be a problem?

Click on the link in the article above.

[BRPORSCHE]

Thanks Danny for the link. Reading it right now. So if the wall is 120 and the dryer is 240 I am safe?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Thanks Danny for the link. Reading it right now. So if the wall is 120 and the dryer is 240 I am safe?

The wall isn't 120. It is either 240 or 120/240.

P.S. - If you don't know exactly what you're doing, please call an electrician. Getting zapped by 120 may/may not be a big deal. Getting zapped (while holding a pile of wet clothes standing on a damp laundry room floor) by 240 will most likely kill you.

[BRPORSCHE]

No worries Danny. It's all dead right now. I think I may just invite my dad over and bribe him with a six pack.

[slodave]

How about some pics of the chick that owns the dryer?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

No worries Danny. It's all dead right now. I think I may just invite my dad over and bribe him with a six pack.

The only real difference is the addition of the ground wire. It's not really complicated (especially after you see a diagram). Problem with the 3-wire set-up, if the neutral ever gets loose/fails, you can get zapped. The 4th wire (ground) is sort of a safety back-up. How far is the dryer from the elec. panel? Re-wiring a new home-run is the best bet.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by slodave

How about some pics of the chick that owns the dryer?

...standing in front of the dryer in her underwear waiting for the clothes to dry...

[BRPORSCHE]

Here is a picture of her chest for ya guys! Maybe I might be able to sneak a photo when she isnt looking.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

...standing in front of the dryer in her underwear waiting for the clothes to dry...

Or standing there nekkid waiting for her underwear to dry?


Exchange it for a gas dryer. Many homes have both options. Gas is cheaper and more efficient.

[rick-l]

How did you ground the cabinet so it is not floating? The top picture shows a strip of metal that looks like it should be a jumper.

I have never done this so I am curious but this seems to be a critical safety measure.