Dryer Electrical Connection 4 Prong

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

Dryer electrical connection 4 prong.

The old cords had three prong plugs that fit three slot wall outlets. As long as you have access to a phillips head screwdriver you can easily change out the dryer cord. 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. 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.

Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets. A 4 prong dryer outlet is wired as a 120 240 volt circuit. The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. In a 3 prong outlet the ground and neutral wires are contained in the same prong.

In 1996 the national electrical code nec changed the requirements for electric dryer wiring and cord connections. Electric clothes dryers typically are sold without power cords attached and as annoying as that may be there s a good reason for this omission. The nec requires that dryers have a dedicated circuit with a minimum of 30 amps. The process is relatively simple and this is usually the best way to deal with the situation when your dryer cord doesn t match the dryer outlet present in your home.

Most home improvement stores such as lowes and home depot sell both 3 prong and 4 prong dryer cables for about 20 25 bucks. A 4 prong cord by contrast has a separate ground wire which means that the dryer s neutral and ground are not connected together thereby minimizing the chances that the appliances metal case will become energized during a short circuit. Changing a dryer cord from a three prong to a four prong or vice versa is an easy project for most people. In todays video we are taking a look at how to install a 4 or 3 prong dryer wire.

The 120 volt service is for the dryer s timers sensors and other electronics while the 240 volt service supplies power to the heating elements. There are a couple of different scenarios ways workarounds one of which is to purchase a new dryer cord. This article will explain what options you have to get your dryer wired and running.