Replacing Dryer Cord 4 Prong To 3 Prong

So i had to change it.

Replacing dryer cord 4 prong to 3 prong.

Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets. Old house has a 3 prong dryer cord outlet but my dryer has a 4 prong cord. I kept the cord when i rewire the house and my 220 outlets. As a result contemporary 240 volt appliances such as dryers have four prong plugs while older outlets have only three.

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. Therefore the dryer s neutral was tied to the ground connection on the metal case of the dryer. The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. This may save you around 40 dollars depending on what the electrician will charge for a new power cord.

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. 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. Most of the homes today are relatively safe as far as the electrical wiring goes and you shouldn t have a problem with it malfunctioning or sending out bursts of energy. 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.

A cheaper alternative is to simply replace 4 prong dryer cable with a 3 prong. A 4 prong 30amp 250v dryer power cord will usually cost around 15 to 25 dollars if you buy it yourself. Purchase a 3 prong dryer cord. Installing a four prong cord to fit a four slot outlet.

The switch to a 4 prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3 prong outlet design.