I need to change my 3 prong wall dryer outlet to a 4 prong wall dryer outlet. Is this hard to do?
Question:I need to change my 3 prong wall dryer outlet to a 4 prong wall dryer outlet. Is this hard to do? I have NO experience is electrical things at all.
Answers:
it is easier and safer to change the the cord on the dryer, you can buy the cord you need at a home center or electrical store. unplug dryer.there is a panel on the dryer where the cord connects, remove it. 3 screws attach the cord, white wire on silver nut,black wire on brass nut and ground wire on green.
You must be going from a 220 volt (single phase) dryer
to a 3 phase dryer, that would be the main reason to use 3 hot wires and 1 ground instead of 2 hot wires and one ground.
So if you need 4 prong outlet,( 3 hot & 1 ground) you must be coming from main panel with a cable that has 4 wires inside, from a 3 phase breaker and if that's the case and you have NO experience? you better find someone with experience before you make a mistake and ruin a good dryer.
No not really,but you'd be better
off going to LOWES or Home Depot,
or most any appliance store and
buying a pigtail that matches the
outlet you currently have.
Just remember if you do decide to
change outlets, I know you'll make
sure the power is off. However it
would be wise to use a Multi-tester
just to be sure (if you don't have one,
you can pick one up at LOWES for
around $12.00.
Myself, I would go with changing the
Pigtail.Whatever you decide, just Be Careful.
I hope this will help you. Good Luck...
(BY-THE-WAY, A PIGTAIL IS THE "PROPER NAME" FOR THE CORD!).
an electrician could do that easily for you. The reason you should not do it yourself is because you may not be adept at electricity and you'd hit current. The electrician can shut off the electricity, "test" the wires, splice the wires to make things work properly, and re-connect that for you and you'll be safe.
When a person calls in an electrician to do a job, usually they find out what else in their home isn't working properly, what additional outlets they want (like a built-up line for a computer), or see if all wiring in the kitchen is up to code and is enough for all the new appliances, or maybe you want a fan in the bathroom or in the ceiling too, or maybe you want more lighting in the bathoom or livingroom (cause the new bulbs give off a lot less light than the old ones, or maybe you want a basement light or a light in your closet or garage,.and so you get all these things done at once while the electrician is available, and for one-lump-sum price.
Don't Listen to Recommendations advising you to call an electrician bec you can solve your problem with a more cost effective & cheaper solution by following Justin's advice. We have owned more than one matching pairs of washer and dryer and when you move around to different residences you will never know what kind of dryer outlet to expect in that house or apartment so follow JUSTIN's ADVICE and just visit Lowes or Home Depot and purchase a 4 prong dryer cord (Note Remember to save and not toss the 3 prong cord bec you might need it at your next house or apartment). Removing the panel on the back of the dryer is rather simple if you can get behind the dryer as the cord is simply connected with several screws to the dryer. Good Luck!
Justin B said "it is easier and safer to change the the cord on the dryer, you can buy the cord you need at a home center or electrical store. unplug dryer.there is a panel on the dryer where the cord connects, remove it. 3 screws attach the cord, white wire on silver nut,black wire on brass nut and ground wire on green."
It is very easy. When I moved in to my house I had to do the same thing. It is easy. All you do is find the panel behind the dryer take it off. Unscrew the connections and screw on the new cord. Then put the panel back on. That's it.
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