New dryer's plug doesn't match outlet

[Phoenix86]

OK, I got a new dryer and the plug on it is 4 prong. The outlet in the apartment is a 3 prong outlet.

Forgive the crude drawing...

The dryer end looks like this:


..O
| _ |
..|

The outlet looks like this:

/ _ \
..|

So think about this like a computer part I'm looking for an adapter right? Well, the local home depot says there is no adapter and I need to rewire the dryer. The have a cable that matches my outlet and has exposed terminals on the end. Eeek, I'm not an electrician, but I'm not an idiot. So I'm thinking I can do this. So I go home with the cable, I'll just return it if I need.

Now at home I'm thinking somethings wrong. 4 prongs on the dryer means 4 cables. New cable only has three... So I pop open the back panel and expose the wiring I see a clearly labeled external ground terminal and three other terminals. The cable has a clearly labeled ground wire, that obviously goes in the clearly labeled external ground terminal. That leaves 2 cables and three terminals (all together, seperate from the ground), so what am I missing?

Thanks.

edited to pad the drawing with spaces so it looks half way decent.

 

[bmacd]

is it even the same voltage? Dude...just be careful.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
OK, I got a new dryer and the plug on it is 4 prong. The outlet in the apartment is a 3 prong outlet.

Forgive the crude drawing...

The dryer end looks like this:

o
| |
L

only rotate the L shaped piece so it points up and left.

The outlet looks like this:

/ \
L

only rotate the L so it points up and right.

So think about this like a computer part I'm looking for an adapter right? Well, the local home depot says there is no adapter and I need to rewire the dryer. The have a cable that matches my outlet and has exposed terminals on the end. Eeek, I'm not an electrician, but I'm not an idiot. So I'm thinking I can do this. So I go home with the cable, I'll just return it if I need.

Now at home I'm thinking somethings wrong. 4 prongs on the dryer means 4 cables. New cable only has three... So I pop open the back panel and expose the wiring I see a clearly labeled external ground terminal and three other terminals. The cable has a clearly labeled ground wire, that obviously goes in the clearly labeled external ground terminal. That leaves 2 cables and three terminals (all together, seperate from the ground), so what am I missing?

Thanks.

Do not alter the cord on the dryer.

You will void your warrantee

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: bmacd
is it even the same voltage? Dude...just be careful.

-=bmacd=-

seems 50% of residential dryers are 120 AC and usually on a 40 amp circuit.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
OK, I got a new dryer and the plug on it is 4 prong. The outlet in the apartment is a 3 prong outlet.

Forgive the crude drawing...

The dryer end looks like this:

o
| |
L

only rotate the L shaped piece so it points up and left.

The outlet looks like this:

/ \
L

only rotate the L so it points up and right.

So think about this like a computer part I'm looking for an adapter right? Well, the local home depot says there is no adapter and I need to rewire the dryer. The have a cable that matches my outlet and has exposed terminals on the end. Eeek, I'm not an electrician, but I'm not an idiot. So I'm thinking I can do this. So I go home with the cable, I'll just return it if I need.

Now at home I'm thinking somethings wrong. 4 prongs on the dryer means 4 cables. New cable only has three... So I pop open the back panel and expose the wiring I see a clearly labeled external ground terminal and three other terminals. The cable has a clearly labeled ground wire, that obviously goes in the clearly labeled external ground terminal. That leaves 2 cables and three terminals (all together, seperate from the ground), so what am I missing?

Thanks.

Do not alter the cord on the dryer.

You will void your warrantee

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

Yep.

Just make sure to hook the wires back up right ....

We had the same problem when we got a "new" dryer. It was used, so we just switched plugs with our old one.

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: bmacd
is it even the same voltage? Dude...just be careful.

-=bmacd=-

99% of residential dryers are 120 AC and usually on a 40 amp circuit.

Uh.. No?

I have never heard of or seen a 120v dryer. Maybe a small unit, but....

 

[Phoenix86]

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

How?

What is the 4th prong, an extra ground? If it's a ground would it wire to the existing ground in the 3 wire setup on the other side of the wall?

It's an apartment too, should they maintainece folks take do it, if it requires rewiring an outlet?

edit: Isn't there just a converter I can plug into the existing outlet, ala no rewiring?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
OK, I got a new dryer and the plug on it is 4 prong. The outlet in the apartment is a 3 prong outlet.

Forgive the crude drawing...

The dryer end looks like this:

o
| |
L

only rotate the L shaped piece so it points up and left.

The outlet looks like this:

/ \
L

only rotate the L so it points up and right.

So think about this like a computer part I'm looking for an adapter right? Well, the local home depot says there is no adapter and I need to rewire the dryer. The have a cable that matches my outlet and has exposed terminals on the end. Eeek, I'm not an electrician, but I'm not an idiot. So I'm thinking I can do this. So I go home with the cable, I'll just return it if I need.

Now at home I'm thinking somethings wrong. 4 prongs on the dryer means 4 cables. New cable only has three... So I pop open the back panel and expose the wiring I see a clearly labeled external ground terminal and three other terminals. The cable has a clearly labeled ground wire, that obviously goes in the clearly labeled external ground terminal. That leaves 2 cables and three terminals (all together, seperate from the ground), so what am I missing?

Thanks.

Do not alter the cord on the dryer.

You will void your warrantee

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

Yep.

Just make sure to hook the wires back up right ....

We had the same problem when we got a "new" dryer. It was used, so we just switched plugs with our old one.

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: bmacd
is it even the same voltage? Dude...just be careful.

-=bmacd=-

99% of residential dryers are 120 AC and usually on a 40 amp circuit.

Uh.. No?

I have never heard of or seen a 120v dryer. Maybe a small unit, but....

Gas dryers only need 120V. If it's an electric dryer I have no clue.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

How?

What is the 4th prong, an extra ground? If it's a ground would it wire to the existing ground in the 3 wire setup on the other side of the wall?

It's an apartment too, should they maintainece folks take do it, if it requires rewiring an outlet?

Yes, have them do it. DO NOT do it yourself if you aren't absolutely sure.

You could be a sport and purchase the new receptacle yourself, though.

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Gas dryers only need 120V. If it's an electric dryer I have no clue.

That makes a little more sense. He's talking about a regular 240V electric dryer though, pretty sure.

IIRC, ours draws like 5500W or something. That would be 45A at 120V.

But it's only 22 @ 240. Much more managable.

 

[Phoenix86]

Yes, have them do it. DO NOT do it yourself if you aren't absolutely sure.

You could be a sport and purchase the new receptacle yourself, though.

I think we have a winner here, I'll get a new receptacle tomorrow and deal with the yahoo's at the leasing office.

Thanks for the quick replies folks.

BTW It's a 240V.

 

[DrPizza]

4 prong? I'd think 220V, 1 ground, 1 neutral, 2 hot 110V out of phase with each other.

 

[rival]

*sniff* sniff*

i smell an electrical house fire

 

[fredtam]

Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New, old, mobile homes. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
OK, I got a new dryer and the plug on it is 4 prong. The outlet in the apartment is a 3 prong outlet.

Forgive the crude drawing...

The dryer end looks like this:

o
| |
L

only rotate the L shaped piece so it points up and left.

The outlet looks like this:

/ \
L

only rotate the L so it points up and right.

So think about this like a computer part I'm looking for an adapter right? Well, the local home depot says there is no adapter and I need to rewire the dryer. The have a cable that matches my outlet and has exposed terminals on the end. Eeek, I'm not an electrician, but I'm not an idiot. So I'm thinking I can do this. So I go home with the cable, I'll just return it if I need.

Now at home I'm thinking somethings wrong. 4 prongs on the dryer means 4 cables. New cable only has three... So I pop open the back panel and expose the wiring I see a clearly labeled external ground terminal and three other terminals. The cable has a clearly labeled ground wire, that obviously goes in the clearly labeled external ground terminal. That leaves 2 cables and three terminals (all together, seperate from the ground), so what am I missing?

Thanks.

Do not alter the cord on the dryer.

You will void your warrantee

Change the outlet on the wall instead. Its a 10 min job at most.

Yep.

Just make sure to hook the wires back up right ....

We had the same problem when we got a "new" dryer. It was used, so we just switched plugs with our old one.

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: bmacd
is it even the same voltage? Dude...just be careful.

-=bmacd=-

99% of residential dryers are 120 AC and usually on a 40 amp circuit.

Uh.. No?

I have never heard of or seen a 120v dryer. Maybe a small unit, but....

I edited my post as I was unsure. I checked and found that some are 120 and some are 220 er 240.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New and old. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

Unless the seller changes it, he will void his warrantee.

It is cheaper and easier to change the outlet.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New and old. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

Jesus, read the damn thread before commenting. He already said he bought a new cord for it, but the wall outlet and new cord have 3 wires while the dryer connection has 4.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New and old. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

Unless the seller changes it, he will void his warrantee.

It is cheaper and easier to change the outlet.

You Sir are wrong. Dryers are set up to accept different cords.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New, old, mobile homes. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

It will void his warranty.

It is easier to change the outlet.

If this was a used dryer, I would agree.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New and old. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

Unless the seller changes it, he will void his warrantee.

It is cheaper and easier to change the outlet.

You Sir are wrong. Dryers are set up to accept different cords.

He is scared to change the outlet. You think he is going to screw around inside the dryer?

My dryer only accepts the cord it has. Of course its an old dryer.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New, old, mobile homes. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

It will void his warranty.

It is easier to change the outlet.

If this was a used dryer, I would agree.

Well then you would also be wrong. I'm tired and don't have time to explain why I know this (work related) or how to do it.

here

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New and old. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

Unless the seller changes it, he will void his warrantee.

It is cheaper and easier to change the outlet.

You Sir are wrong. Dryers are set up to accept different cords.

He is scared to change the outlet. You think he is going to screw around inside the dryer?

My dryer only accepts the cord it has. Of course its an old dryer.

He is correct, any dryer I've ever seen was setup to pretty easily switch the cord.

But it will still void his warranty, unless it is explicitly stated that it is OK for the user to change the cord.

I killed a dryer by hooking the wires up wrong once, so be careful.

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: fredtam
Jesus, go buy another cord. There are different types of dryer cords. New, old, mobile homes. They are both 240v. Don't change your wall outlet just go get another cord and hook it to your dryer.

It will void his warranty.

It is easier to change the outlet.

If this was a used dryer, I would agree.

Well then you would also be wrong. I'm tired and don't have time to explain why I know this (work related) or how to do it.

here

Rewiring a cord isn't rocket science. That isn't the point.

This is a new dryer. He shouldn't be mucking with it himself. If it was used, I would agree with you.

 

[Apex]

http://www.networkcable.com/pages/components/nema_nonlocking.html

Maybe that'll help. Which one specifically is your plug, and which one is the receptacle?

 

[fredtam]

I can almost guarantee it shows how to do it in the "dryer manual". It is very common.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Apex
http://www.networkcable.com/pages/components/nema_nonlocking.html

Maybe that'll help. Which one specifically is your plug, and which one is the receptacle?

Going by his drawings,

His new dryer uses 14-30R, and his current receptacle is 10-30R.

Originally posted by: fredtam
I can almost guarantee it shows how to do it in the "dryer manual". It is very common.

Hmm. If that is the case, then you're right.

Hmm. I agree, look through your manual. Look for user-instructions on changing the cord, and see if it will void your warranty if you "dont have a licensed technician do it".

If you can do it yourself, it would probably be easier than changing the receptacle out - less dangerous too.

 

[NascarFool]

Electricity demands a load of respect. If you are not familiar with electrical wiring, be smart and spend the bucks on a qualified electrician. It sure beats being knocked dead while trying to save a buck.

 

[Kelemvor]

Didn't read this whole thign but the OLD standard (which is now illegal to put in and against code) was for the 3 pronged type of outlet. The NEW standard (and required by code) is the 4 pronged outlet.

GOod luck doing it yourself. I'd give a quick cal to an electrician and just say you have a new dryer with a 4 prong plug ad your outlet fits a 3 pronged plug and ask for an estimate to change it over. I doubt it would cost much.