Dryer Electrical Connection 3 Prong

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.

Dryer electrical connection 3 prong.

This configuration did not include a dedicated ground connection. It wasn t until 1996 when the national electrical code nec was updated to require 4 prong dryer outlets in all new homes. A 3 prong dryer cord was the standard for dryers prior to 2000. Wiring a 3 wire dryer outlet.

A gas dryer plugs into an ordinary 120 volt electrical outlet and it has a cord fitted with an ordinary appliance plug. See an electric dryer installation with a typical 240 volt electric power cord wiring system. An electric dryer on the other hand heats the air with electric heating elements and runs on 240 volt current which requires a much different outlet receptacle and a special heavy duty appliance cord with a unique plug. The switch to a 4 prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3 prong outlet design.

Make sure that the white wire is wrapped with black or red electrical tape at both ends of the cable to identify it as being a hot wire and not a neutral wire. Lets look a how the electric dryer is wired and what to do if your cord does not match the plug. Nearly all homes built before this time featured either a 3 prong outlet or range outlet slightly different than a typical 3 prong dryer outlet. 3 prong cord wiring for an electric dryer.

If your running a new circuit i highly recommend that you bring your outlet up to code and install a 4 prong dryer outlet. Now a 3 prong outlet is outdated from modern electrical codes but is accepted if you already have one in your home. You may find yourself with either a 3 wire or 4 wire electric dryer or a 3 wire or 4 wire outlet. One of the updates in the 1996 national electric code was to require grounding on 220 volt circuits such as dryer outlet wiring.

After this update all dryer receptacles are required to have four wires instead of three. See below the difference between this diagram and the 4 prong outlet below is the addition of a neutral. Wiring a dryer wiring a 240v dryer. Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets.

The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. Help with electrical wiring for a 30 amp 3 wire dryer outlet. Instructions on how to install a 3 wire power cord to your dryer.