220 outlet question. Easy to change three prong to four prong?
Question:I've got a 220 outlet for a clothes dryer. My old dryer was the three prong style. (Not much of an electrician, so don't know technical terms) My girlfriend moved in and brought her newer dryer with a four prong plug.
Is there an adapter I can use, or should the outlet be replaced? If needs replaced, is this an easy task, or do I need to call a pro? How much would this cost?
Thanks in advance!
Answers:
Why do so many people answer questions when they have no clue?!
You do not want to change your outlet, since that would require running new wires in your walls. You need to get a 3-wire dryer cord and install it, as at least one other correctly mentioned. There is no adapter. When you replace the cord, you must connect the frame of the dryer (where the green wire of the old 4-wire cord is connected) to the neutral screw, along with the white wire. There may be a strap on the screw for the white wire already for this purpose. If you don't do that part, your dryer won't be grounded.
Three-wire dryer (and range) connections are grounded through the neutral (less than ideal but not inherently dangerous). The 4-wire cords ground the dryer through a separate ground wire (green wire) like most other appliances (the 3rd prong on 'normal' outlets). A connection between the neutral and ground in a 4-wire cord can be a hazard, is illegal, and unfortunately many unqualified people install 4-wire cords incorrectly and leave this connection in place. If that was the case with your dryer, it will be easier to have this connection when you put on a 3-wire cord.
just change the cord, dont change the outlet
this is one that can kill you, call a pro!
Replace the outlet, but have an electrician do it....!!!
I don't know how any any adapter could possibly work, the difference between the two is the four prong has a definite equipment ground. This job should only be done by a liscensed electrician.
As stated, the three prong is the "older" version. The newer "Four Prong" is what you want at the end of this job.
If her dryer has a four prong cord then you will leave that cord on that dryer. This means, you will have to have the outlet changed to a four prong outlet. If you have not messed with 220 lines before - this is not the time to practice. call an electrician and your drying will be running an hour later.
when the dryer was first purchased it came without the cord, that's the way they sell them, the cord was added when the dryer was installed , the cord was installed according to what outlet the dryer was hooking up to, all you need to do is buy a new 3 prong appliance cord and install it yourself, cost is around $20 at any hardware store
You really don't need to call an electrician. I would not suggest changing the cord, the three prong does not have the ground attached, the dryer should be grounded. Turn off your circuit breaker and attach the four prong outlet, using the ground wire (bare) as well.
Before you change the cords or outlet, check the back of both dryers for a wiring diagram. The information there will tell you why one cord is three and the other four wire. If you don't understand the wiring diagram, find a friend that can help you. Don't move or change anything for your safety until you find an answer. On your girl friend's dryer there is a need to power something needing the fourth wire, where your dryer only needed the three wire cord.. There are no adapter for home usage to go from three to four prong cord. If you don't have four wires at the outlet now, you're going to have to have four wire power installed. To be on the safe side get a pro. Have more than one electrician give you a written price to run the wiring. Try to stay away from the fast talkers, good price, bad workmanship. Good Luck. Might think about just using your dryer until such time you move and have an outlet to use the other dryer.
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