Replacing Dryer Cord 4 Prong To 3 Prong

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.

Replacing dryer cord 4 prong to 3 prong.

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. Installing a four prong cord to fit a four slot outlet. 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. Therefore the dryer s neutral was tied to the ground connection on the metal case of the dryer.

As a result contemporary 240 volt appliances such as dryers have four prong plugs while older outlets have only three. A cheaper alternative is to simply replace 4 prong dryer cable with a 3 prong. The switch to a 4 prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3 prong outlet design. Old house has a 3 prong dryer cord outlet but my dryer has a 4 prong cord.

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. I kept the cord when i rewire the house and my 220 outlets. The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction.

A 3 prong dryer cord was the standard for dryers prior to 2000. A 4 prong 30amp 250v dryer power cord will usually cost around 15 to 25 dollars if you buy it yourself. Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets. Purchase a 3 prong dryer 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.