3 Wire Dryer Plug To 4 Wire Outlet

Let s talk diy electrical wiring tips.

3 wire dryer plug to 4 wire outlet. When moving a newer electric dryer into an older house it s not uncommon to find that the cord and plug included with the new dryer doesn t fit the 240 volt dryer outlet. If you ve wondered how to convert a 3 wire dryer electrical outlet to 4 wire dryer outlet then wonder no more. But there are two different outlet styles and plug in cord styles used for these 240 volt electric dryers. With the four wire outlet mandated in 1996 figure 2 however the nec realized that replacing old existing outlets and their wiring could prove to be much too invasive and costly in older homes that would have to be upgraded to the new 4 wire system and it was decided that the three prong outlets would remain code compliant but when faced with the dilemma of installing a newer dryer and.

Before the mid 1990s most electric clothes dryers operated with three prong plugs that fit into three slot outlets but since 1996 the electric code has required four slot outlets. The third wire may be white green or bare and it connects to the ground bus in the panel. The wire you described is a 3 conductor wire so it will likely be a 14 3 or 12 3. Dryer outlet wiring project.

However in new construction the installation of kitchen ranges and clothes dryers requires a 4 wire cord and plug. A 12 2 has 2 conductors white black plus ground all of which are 12 awg. Two wires the red and black ones connect to a double gang circuit breaker in the panel. Look for two brass screws on the receptacle and connect the red and black wires to these screws.

It s much easier and much less expensive to replace the 4 wire whip with a 3 wire whip. The line was not in use and does not have an outlet it is a 3 wire line white black and bare copper wire. For example a 14 3 wire has 3 conductors typically red black and white plus ground all of which are 14awg. In an existing installation such as an older home built in the 1950s it is considered code compliant for the kitchen range or the clothes dryer to be installed using a 3 wire cord and plug.

Gregmac feb 24 15 at 1 59. Some have three slots designed to accept appliance cords with three prongs while other outlets have four slots designed to accept four prong cords. The older 3p 3 wire dryer circuits are still legal and safe to use so there s no need to rewire your dryer branch circuit to install a new dryer that came equipped with a 4 wire appliance whip wire. I have dedicated line with a double pole 30amp breaker i want to use for a dryer.

The national electrical code has required grounding for 240 volt circuits only since 1999 before that such circuits were grounded through the neutral wire as a result contemporary 240 volt appliances such as dryers have four prong plugs while older outlets have only three. I need help wiring a 240volt outlet for a dryer.