Replacing Dryer Cord 3 Prong To 4 Prong

Therefore the dryer s neutral was tied to the ground connection on the metal case of the dryer.

Replacing dryer cord 3 prong to 4 prong.

A cheaper alternative is to simply replace 4 prong dryer cable with a 3 prong. The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. A 4 prong 30amp 250v dryer power cord will usually cost around 15 to 25 dollars if you buy it yourself. The key difference in the wiring configuration between 3 prong and 4 prong cords is that with the older setup the 3 prong cord has only two hot wires and one neutral wire there is no separate ground wire.

In an effort to shed some light on this subject we re going to discuss the purpose of these cords and why there s a growing popularity for 4 prong cables. If you will be calling an electrician to install the cord it may be cheaper for you to buy the 4 prong dryer cord beforehand. It isn t easy to convert an ungrounded 3 prong outlet to a grounded 4 prong one the solution is typically to replace the dryer cord. Most of the steps described above will be the same.

Unfortunately few people understand the difference between 3 prong and 4 prong dryer cords. As a result contemporary 240 volt appliances such as dryers have four prong plugs while older outlets have only three. Purchase a 3 prong dryer cord. A 3 prong dryer cord was the standard for dryers prior to 2000.

Installing a four prong cord to fit a four slot outlet. Up until the mid 1990s 3 prong outlets were the standard used in american homes. This may save you around 40 dollars depending on what the electrician will charge for a new power cord. The national electrical code began requiring 4 prong receptacles for 220 volt residential circuits in 2000 but it doesn t prohibit you from using your older dryer with a 3 prong cord.

If you have the related but opposite situation an older dryer with a three prong cord but a newer house with a four slot outlet it is equally easy to replace an old cord with a new four prong cord that will fit a four slot outlet.