Should it be moved from the frame to the center wire? For the power supply cord you can use a 4-wire receptacle OR a 3-wire receptacle--follow steps 7-10 for the 4-wire receptacle OR follow steps 11-13 for the 3-wire receptacle. It's a pretty simple task and doesn't require a box full of tools. Question: I bought an adapter to fix this - won't that work as is if my 4-prong is wired correctly or do I have to change internal wiring? But nothing for a dryer. Question: My dryer had a green and yellow wire in the center terminal. The middle wire is the neutral and both outside wires are the hots. Unfortunately there are only 3 of the 4 wires necessary in the wall - what they did to hook it up is impossible to know. Or you could cut it very short, but that means it cannot be used in the future. Now obviously I need to switch the new 4 prong plug to a 3 prong plug. Ground straps are available from Amazon (search there for "ground strap" and short pieces of wire are usually available at home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. It's only a guess, though, and could be something else. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on August 24, 2017: You have it correct on the ground strap - you need another wire from the location of the 4 wire ground (removed now) to the center terminal. The four-pronged cord has been loosened from the dryer wall and is ready to be disconnected from the terminals. I took the ground plate off but then the dryer shocked us. Would it be ok to salvage the 3 prong cord from the old dryer and use it for the new dryers plug( the only reason I'm switching dryers is simply because I was given a newer better model) so there shouldnt be any issues with the 3 prong cord being damaged or anything like that. Leave the green wire where it is and add the jumper. I'm removing an old dryer and replacing it with a new one.Now obviously I need to switch the new 4 prong plug to a 3 prong plug. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on February 10, 2018: Hi Kay. Plugged it in, turned it on and it ran great. There will also be the ground wire that goes both there and to the frame of the dryer, plus the center wire of the new cord. I can use for whirlpool dryer Asked by Jose April 2, 2016. Answer: I have not found any adapters that are UL listed, meaning they do not meet the safety regulations of the National Electric Code. Answer: No. If it's the flat kind kind of 3-wire cord, the center lead is ground and the two outside ones are L1 and L2. I'm changing a 3 prong cord to a 4 prong cord on my samsung dryer. Everything in my breaker box is 30 AMP. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on August 27, 2017: No problem with the cord; anything 30 amp or greater will do fine as long as it matches or exceeds the breaker. Buy and use the adapter at your own risk; I wouldn't use it. If you are set on a ground strap rather than a piece of wire (a few inches of #10 wire will do fine) you might take a look at what you will need and visit an automotive parts store. Now, it would be convenient if there was a dryer plug adapter that you could plug into that three-pronged receptacle so that you could plug your dryer into that—but there isn't. Remove the four-prong cord from the connection box. We have a 4 prong dryer and need to put on a 3 prong cord. Your choice: should you choose experience and understanding of electricity then put the ground strap in as described. Place the unit where it is to be installed leaving the back exposed to be safe. Amazon does, I know. I have a dryer with a 4 prong electrical cord. Thanks for saving me from a shock. Answer: The white wire in the dryer that disappears inside the dryer rather than being in the cord should stay where it is--in the center termination point. I hooked up the 3-prong to the back red wire on the top and the white in the middle, and black on the bottom. Or perhaps a nearby home improvement carries ground straps? Due to changes in the National Electrical Code (NEC), recommended wiring for electric clothes dryer outlets changed in 1996.Before the change, dryer outlets were 3-slot devices that accepted 3-prong cords. This jumper is the only thing that grounds the dryer. If it is, leave it where it is and add a jumper wire or ground strap between the center terminal and the screw where that green wire attaches to the frame. UL LISTED – This cord is UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed, so you know it has been thoroughly tested to ensure your safety. Beyond that, the three wires that go to such an outlet are the black, red and white: there is no ground terminal on a three wire dryer outlet. Instead, the neutral is doing "double duty" after making the changes described in the article. Answer: It sounds like it was previously converted. When the directions are followed, the neutral wire serves as a ground so the wall outlet does not need one. I do not believe it is the wiring or the pigtail that is not working. Do not operate the dryer without it - if necessary cut a piece off your old 4 wire cord but do NOT leave that ground jumper off. I think I understand everything, but how to get a grounding wire. I'd check those for a start - there isn't much else that could go wrong after 30 minutes and be a cause of the failure. Lets look a how the electric dryer is wired and what to do if your cord does not match the plug. I am changing my cord from 4 prong to 3 prong. You must have a "jumper" of some kind, a wire or strap, installed between the dryer frame and the white wire. What should I do? Unless you traced that white wire on the chassis, you can't know for sure it is connected to the neutral. I was told by the previous owner the dryer is 4 or 5 years old. How to Install a Three-Prong Power Cord on a Maytag Dryer Pull the dryer away from the wall, and unplug the existing power cord from the 220-volt outlet. This is the other half of the 240-volt connection. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on September 17, 2019: Absolutely! I have been researching and it resembles a NEMA 10-30r plug. The red and black wires go to the outer two terminals (in the photo the dryer wires are black and blue) and the white wire goes to the terminal in the center of the terminal block. If the outlet on the wall has three prongs yet the bottom is the L-shaped can I use a 3 pound with the bottom from being flat will it still work. Many dryers are placed very close to the wall where the exhaust vent is located, requiring that the hose be badly kinked in order to hook up to it, and rigid metal elbows are available to help alleviate this problem. Dan has been a licensed journey-level electrician for some 17 years. A nut driver or socket is preferred but a pair of pliers is usually sufficient to loosen and remove the wires. Answer: First, you should understand that it is not legal today to put a three prong outlet in the wall; if there are four wires there, then they must all be used, and a four wire dryer cord be used to connect to the dryer. could i just cut the green wire and continue with the install of the 3 prong cord? If you cut it long (for possible future use in changing back) I suggest you put a wire nut on the end of it, just to make sure that it doesn't move around and contact one of the other wires. Atop the posts are the internal dryer wires (slotted over the ends). Question: I'm trying to find either a grounding plate or grounding strap online. BOEEMI 4 Prong to 3 Prong Dryer Adapter Cord Convert 4 Prong Dryer Plug to 3 Prong Wall Outlet, NEMA 10-30P Male to 14-30R Female 120V/240V 30 Amp Dryer Plug Adaptor with Safety Ground Wire, 1.5FT. Turn the dryer to the “On” position to test operation. Look for the 125/250 rating in your appliance manual. Very easy to convert. Loosen the screws on the dryer's electrical cover on the back of the dryer, and remove the cover. The L shaped bottom prong is standard for dryers. Unit works great - but would like to know if this is going to be a concern. It is easy to hook up with ring terminals. I found one on Amazon that may do the trick. There was a white wire that we put on middle prong with middle wire. Amazon used to carry one, and it still shows up, but has been unavailable for some time now. I do not know where that green wire leads to. Answer: It does not go on the cord. Can this be used as a ground wire? Question: You say there is no adapter, 4 to 3 prong, but I have found several! i was told at the hardware stores I had to buy a 3 prong cord and install it on the dryer and remove the 4 prong. You must match the plug to the outlet. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on July 31, 2017: Sounds like you have an older 10-50R outlet in the wall, for a range, and it is likely on a 50 amp breaker. Question: I’m replacing a 4-prong cord with a 3-prong cord. But there is also another white wire from the dryer attached to the center. My outlet is 4 prongs and so is my dryer, however my dryers bottom prong is an L shape but my outlet is just straight down vertical. Lowest price in 30 days. You never know when you might move again, and Murphy's Law says that if you do, it will be back into a home with a four-prong dryer plug! Either the factory made an error or someone in the past changed cords incorrectly. or do I need to find a green wire with the same type of tabs? or just pinching it? Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on July 04, 2017: Yes, the neutral is connected to ground...in your panel box. You may find yourself with either a 3-wire or 4-wire electric dryer, or a 3-wire or 4-wire outlet. Question: I am changing a four prong to a three prong, but the green and white wires from the cord were both attached to the center connection on the dryer. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on February 21, 2019: I am not familiar with wiring requirements in Costa Rica. Next, disconnect the red wire—another of the "hot" connections—from the right side post by removing the terminal screw. of course I'd have to mix those two terms up thanks for the help the tutorial was great. Tighten the two screws equally until snug. My conversion of a 4 prong to a 3 prong involved an older, used dryer. Thank you so much! Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on August 02, 2017: Sounds like you have a range, or maybe a welder, outlet instead of a dryer. Most likely there is a spot where the old green wire went; put the second end there. And I used the range cord from the range I was taking out. TIA, Don. You most definitely CAN change the cord, though - cords are readily available, it is a simple task and is quite legal and safe to change the cord out. While it is not really possible to troubleshoot with such limited information, my guess would be a temperature limiting switch. I just changed from 4 prong to 3 prong but I have no green wire to put on the green nail. I noticed when I removed the 4 prong plug. 125/250 VOLTS – Generally works with any electric dryer that takes a 3 prong dryer cord with three 10-guage wires. Answer: Absolutely. That fourth prong is a ground wire and is there for better electrical safety. SO WOULD YOU PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO. Just a bit confused. Out of curiosity, why are you not able to change out the wall receptacle instead of changing out the wire ? Answer: Are those wires in the cord, making it a five wire cord? There will be some kind of connector holding the dryer cable to the wall of the dryer so that it doesn't pull out. From your description it is what you have, and no further action need be taken. Is this safe to use? The older, outlets are "grandfathered" in the rule change and are quite legal to use if already in place, but you will need a new cord to fit it. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on August 27, 2019: The apartment outlet either has no neutral or no ground (which has been illegal for years). Simply slide the slotted side of the plate into the slot provided on the dryer. How is that supposed to fit? UL recognized strain relief to power cord entry hole. Is this okay to buy instead of a dryer cord and rewiring as you described? With the wires all terminated, tighten the connector on the outside of the dryer that holds the cable securely. The dryer won't start. In any case, the new center wire on the 3 wire cord will go to the center terminal, with a jumper from there to the frame of the dryer - the green screw on the frame would be the best place to put the other end of the jumper. Universal 3-wire dryer power cord. The wall outlet in your photo has three strait slots (and so does mine). In place of that wire a ground strap or short piece of #10 wire (preferably green) must be installed. You can use a #10 wire instead of a strap. Nice article, very clear and understandable. While Canadian 4 prong plug has 240V between two hot wires at +- 120V each, the German Schuko is 230V on one pin and neutral for the second one. Is there an adapter for the new L style cord to fit into the straight prong outlet or replace the outlet itself? Answer: Impossible to say, although it is likely. While it was still running, i pulled out the lint filter and alot of stuff blew out then it shut off. Professional installation does not usually include the cost of a new 4 prong dryer cord. dryer cord installation 4 prong to 3 prong. Question: There is a green wire that is coming from the dryer and connects to the frame. I didn't notice at the time, as the gentleman at the store said it would work fine when I told him what I was doing. Do not re-wire the dryer. Example three-prong dryer plug receptacle. So would it be ok to do so? I also have a green wire with a yellow stripe going from the dryer frame to inside the dryer. He has extensive experience in most areas of the electrical trade. Answer: If you are using a three prong cord, you will need the ground strap connected to the center, white, wire. Their prices are per foot. I was only looking at the ones that were clearly marked...the smaller ones that are not so clear are different ...15 and 20 amp ...sorry! Your three-prong cord will not have a green ground wire. With the old 4-wire plug, both the green and the white wires are connected to the center post screw. Return From Dryer Cord Installation Guide. Double-check that the dryer is in the “Off” position. Also, my mobile home originally had a gas dryer and when I asked about putting in an electric one, the manager put in a three pin socket....am I reading correctly that this is not safe? But even if it is already there it cannot hurt to put another one in - be sure to install that jumper! You would have to find the other end of that wire and verify it is attached to the frame of the dryer. Thanks for the help. This project shows you how to install a new four-prong dryer cord for use with a four-slot outlet, which has been the standard for more than 20 years. It has a red and black hot wire to the two straight blades and a ground wire to the round blade. Sep 04, 2014018332An electrician will usually charge around 80 dollars to install a new power cord on your dryer. The green ground jumper goes with the other end of the jumper going to the frame of the dryer. It is curious that a four wire cord had that jumper, and that the green and white were terminated together. Unscrew the three connection screws using a magnetic nut driver, so the screws don't fall down inside of the machine. This link is … Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on April 23, 2018: In a 3 prong cord you have it right; the center wire is the neutral and the outer two are the black and red. Answer: I'm only guessing here, but it sounds like someone in the past has taken the easy way out and replaced the 3 wire wall outlet with a 4 wire outlet. Changing A 3-Prong Dryer Cord And Plug to a 4-Prong Cord. Could you see if this is a problem? Answer: A nut and bolt is fine. Redundant grounds can never hurt, but seldom add much, either - putting two wires where one will do fine is just such a case. (I checked the circuit and has a 30 amp breaker). It's not difficult and would prevent future problems with the dryer not fitting the wall outlet. I also see lots of "twist-lock" cords that will plug into a dryer outlet: these are 240V extension cords that are plugged together and twisted to lock them in place. I'm dealing with a conversion from a 4-prong stove cord to a 3-prong cord. (I who knows nothing about electrical wiring or dangers). have all wires in place, including the extra white wire mentioned before that is already going to the middle terminal to somewhere in the control panel I am guessing....so I need to put a THIRD wire or strap into the middle terminal and over to where the original green one was ? It looks similar but the L shaped prong is reversed? I bought a 4 prong cord to switch out but before I installed it on dryer I wanted to make sure plug would fit. While the red and black wires are interchangeable, the white wire is not; make sure it goes to the center terminal, where the old white wire was. There is high voltage inside (240 volts) that can give you a very nasty shock, even kill you. Are you absolutely positive that the pictures aren't causing confusion? I did not provide explicit directions and photos for a grounding wire because it looks pretty; I did it because grounding is necessary for safe operation of your dryer and is required by law. One suggestion is where the "jumper" from the center terminal to the frame is, and then remove that jumper from the center terminal. We have asked the landlord to come fix and are waiting for them to fix it. Just don't try to install a four-wire outlet--there aren't enough wires for that. Question: Can you change the 3 wire outlet into a 4 wire outlet? Loosen these screws so that the wire can slide out of the dryer. The apartment maintenance says that the plug is not the problem and will deliver 220 to the dryer. Very few speakers use that large a wire, though - most systems are using 18 gauge or smaller (bigger numbers mean smaller wire). A picture, either hand drawn or taken with your smart phone, can be very useful. There is no green (ground) in the 3 wire cord. It is of the appropriate size and will do the job nicely. I am happy that my socket is ok...I was a bit concerned! Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on May 31, 2017: Michael, the only suggestion I can offer is to make very sure the normal cord pictured in the article will not work. I bought a new 3 prong power cord with the L shape but of course it won't fit. Question: When I did the steps my dryer shot sparks out. Age isn't much of an indicator; at 5 years old it should have come with a 4 prong but could have been converted to a 3, then back to a 4. Here the four wires have been removed and a metal ground strap installed between the dryer frame and the white wire. The diagram above should help. Question: What if the dryer still doesn't turn on after doing everything correctly? The dryer cord comes with a clamp, install the clamp and you are finished installing your cord. Yes, leave the green/yellow wire where it is. 8% off. You've just moved into your new home, the new drapes are up, and the washer and dryer are ready to be put into place. Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on August 29, 2017: My apologies. What can I do if anything to get the dryer to power on? Leave the ground jumper where it is, going from the center terminal to the frame. 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. The are typically shown looking down onto the prongs of the plug, whereas the outlet is shown exactly the opposite. It is wise to turn the power off at this point, just in case something has been wired wrong. Does that mean that my center terminal is grounded already and that I do not need to run a new jumper? 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