Recommendation Changing A Dryer Cord From 3 To 4 Prong

It is therefore somewhat rare that you would want to change a 4 prong cord on an electric dryer to a 3 prong cord.

Changing a dryer cord from 3 to 4 prong. It is much more common to go the other direction to update by changing your dryer cord from 3 prongs to 4 prongs in order to meet the current code requirements. The other option is to replace the four prong cord with a three prong cord. Either way it s a job for an electrician and it usually isn t necessary because there s a better solution.

If your dryer has a pre attached white wire both wires will be connected the neutral terminal. You can simply replace the cord on your new dryer with one that s compatible. However if you have moved into a new house or apartment that has a 3 slot dryer outlet then you might want to change out your 4 prong cord with a 4 prong in order to make use of that existing outlet.

Connect the green cord wire to the ground screw. Tommy cowett show how to connect a newer dryer with a four prong electric chord to his older 3 prong outlet. This is an allowable remedy under the electrical code which grandfathers in older installations.

Connect the white cord wire to the center neutral terminal. He addreses the confusion this change in electri. Existing three slot receptacles are allowed to remain.

This is a job for an electrician and it brings the circuit up to code. Insert a green ground screw through the ring lug on the end of that wire drive the. If you want to replace your three prong dryer outlet with a four prong one you have to run a ground wire back to the panel and connect it to the panel s ground bus.

An alternative would be to ground the outlet separately to a metal stake driven into the ground or possibly to a suitable metal water pipe. Install the new 4 prong cord by inserting the loose wire end through the hole in the dryer s back panel and making the following connections. Drill a 1 4 inch hole in the body of the dryer within reach of the fourth wire in the pigtail which is green.