Replacing Dryer Cord 3 Prong To 4 Prong

Up until the mid 1990s 3 prong outlets were the standard used in american homes.

Replacing dryer cord 3 prong to 4 prong.

A 3 prong dryer cord was the standard for dryers prior to 2000. 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. Unfortunately few people understand the difference between 3 prong and 4 prong dryer cords.

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 will be calling an electrician to install the cord it may be cheaper for you to buy the 4 prong dryer cord beforehand. Therefore the dryer s neutral was tied to the ground connection on the metal case of the dryer.

Installing a four prong cord to fit a four slot outlet. A cheaper alternative is to simply replace 4 prong dryer cable with a 3 prong. Purchase a 3 prong dryer 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.

The switch to a 4 prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3 prong outlet design. As a result contemporary 240 volt appliances such as dryers have four prong plugs while older outlets have only three. Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets. A 4 prong 30amp 250v dryer power cord will usually cost around 15 to 25 dollars if you buy it yourself.

Most of the steps described above will be the same.