How do you wire a 4 prong outlet into a 3 prong dryer?

[lokiju]

I just moved into a new house and the laundry room has a four prong outlet but my dryer seems to have been using a 3 prong cord and only has 3 hook up points on a sort of electrical block.

Is it possible to hook up? What do I do with the extra wire?

I assume I could put the green (ground if I'm not mistaken) into one of the ground screws on the dryer itself...

 

[MrPickins]

The dryer should have a screw for ground. If not, I'd secure it to a chassis screw.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
The dryer should have a screw for ground. If not, I'd secure it to a chassis screw.

So to confirm, ground should be green and neutral should be white and usually the middle wire when hooking up right?

 

[BigJ]

It's going to take too long to explain myself, so I refer you to this page:

http://www.ezdiyelectricity.co...c_dryer_power_cord.php

You were on the correct track with your thinking.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Here ya go!

 

[Modelworks]

On the dryer, remove the 3 prong cord, and on the terminal block of the dryer in the center there should be a metal tab/wire connected to the frame of the dryer.
That needs to be removed so that the dryers frame is no longer connected to the center terminal.

Then connect the 4th wire of the new cord to the dryer frame.

They started doing this because with a 3 prong cord you have two hots and one neutral and before they were using the neutral as the ground for the dryer. When they switched to 4 prong they required the neutral and ground be seperate .

 

[lokiju]

I got it, just put the fourth green on a green screw on the body of the dryer and everything works.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: lokiju
I got it, just put the fourth green on a green screw on the body of the dryer and everything works.

No. You remove the bonding strap and THEN connect the green wire of your new 4-prong dryer cord to the green grounding screw.

 

[mrrman]

hope he sees your post BigJ otherwise gnd will be to his box and not to the plug in the wall

 

[FoBoT]

put a new plug/cord on the dryer

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
put a new plug/cord on the dryer

Yeah, that's what I was going to say.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: FoBoT
put a new plug/cord on the dryer

Yeah, that's what I was going to say.

Me too