Beforeelectric dryers were supplied by a dedicated circuit that had three conductors: two hot wires and a third that was used as both a ground wire and a neutral wire. There was no dedicated ground slot on the receptacle outletand dryer cords had no ground wire or ground prong.

This system worked pretty well and is still in use in many homes todaybut there's more potential for an electrical shock since the ground and neutral wires are combined. To be code-compliant, all newly installed outlets for dryers must be compatible with 4-pronggrounded dryer cords. The volt service is for the dryer's timers, sensors, and other electronics and if your dryer has a light inside, this too is voltswhile the volt service supplies power to the heating elements and the drum motor.

The NEC requires that dryers have a dedicated circuit with a minimum of 30 amps. This calls for a amp, double-pole breaker wired with 10 AWG wire. Get a Quote. In a standard installation with nonmetallic NM cableNM-B with ground cable is run from the main service panel to a recessed outlet box.

The outlet may be a special surface-mount receptacle or a standard dryer receptacle installed in a surface-mounted box. How you connect the cable or wires into the box will depend on the prong. With NM cable in finished walls, the cable is threaded into the box and secured with a prong clamp. In surface-mounted four installations, the conduit is secured to the box with a collar https://telegram-web.online/catholic-dating-websites.php individual conducting wires are snaked through the conduit and into the box.

Connect the bare copper or green insulated ground wire to the ground screw on the outlet. If the outlet is mounted in a metal electrical box, join the circuit ground wire to two grounding pigtails; connect one pigtail to the outlet's ground screw and the other to the ground screw on the box.

Hookup the white neutral wire to the silver-colored neutral terminal on the outlet.

Usually, the connection involves inserting the bare wire into the neutral slot, then securing it by dryer a screw. In some styles, you may need to loop the wire around a screw terminal hookup screwing it down. Secure them to the two hot terminals on four outlet. Insert the outlet into the box, carefully tucking the wires in place, then secure it using the mounting screws.

How to Convert a 4-Prong Dryer Cord to Fit a 3-Slot Outlet

Install the outlet cover plate. Turn off the main circuit breaker in the service panel. Remove the panel cover to expose the panel wiring. Locate two adjacent empty slots in the service panel where the double-pole breaker will fit. Remove the slot tabs on the panel cover where this four will be located. Open a knock-out in the side wall of the service panel, then insert the cable four the opening and secure it with a cable clamp. As you are threading the cable into the panel, be careful not to allow the wires to brush against the bus bars.

You will need plenty of excess wire; strip away at least 18 inches of the outer jacket from the cable. If you are not experienced with working inside an electrical service panel, this is the point where you should hire an electrician to install the circuit breaker.

Even if you've installed the circuit cable, box, and outlet read article, you can hookup have an electrician make the final connections at the service panel. Service panels pose a deadly risk of shock because the utility service cables feeding the panel—and the terminal lugs they connect to inside the panel—remain live at all times.

Shutting off the main circuit breaker does not turn off the power to the service feed. Now, test the branch circuits inside the panel with a voltage tester to confirm the power is off. This is done by touching hookup probe of the tester to a screw terminal on the breaker while touching the other probe to the ground bus bar. Remember that the incoming power from the utility service lines will remain live; do can kathiesanderss onlyfans consider touch either of the hot bus bars running down the back of the panel.

Connect the ground wire from the dryer outlet's circuit cable to the panel's ground bus bar. This involves inserting the bare end of the wire into a slot in the ground bus bar and tightening the set screw to secure the wire. Carefully fold the excess wire and arrange it along the outer edge of the panel. Connect the white neutral circuit dryer by inserting the bare copper end of the wire into a slot in the panel's neutral bus bar, then tightening the set screw.

Carefully fold the excess wire and tuck it along the edge of the service panel. Note: In almost every case the ground bus bar and the neutral bus bar are the same, but this is not the case if the panel you are connecting to is a hookup which has a separate ground bus bar from the neutral bus bar. Connect the red and black hot circuit wires to the two screw terminals on the amp, double-pole circuit breaker.

Click to see more most breakers, this involves simply inserting the bare ends of the wires into the slots on the breaker and tightening the set screws.

What You'll Need

Line up your new breaker so the clips slide over the mounting hooks adjacent to the hot bus bar. Dryer the breaker down firmly until it snaps into place. Depending on the brand of your service panel, inserting the breaker can be either a pivoting action or a firm inward push to snap the breaker onto the bus bars. Reinstall the panel cover. Turn off all the branch circuit breakers in dryer panel.

Turn on the main breaker, then switch on each of the branch circuits, one at a time. This process prevents the sudden power surge that occurs if the main breaker is turned on while all the circuit breakers are activated. Use a voltage tester to verify that the dryer outlet is carrying power. You are dryer ready to install the 4-prong appliance cord on your dryer and plug it into your revamped dryer outlet.

This project requires a good knowledge of—and experience working with—electrical circuits. It involves making circuit connections at the main service panel and should not be attempted unless you are fully confident in your abilities.

If you are not certain, it is best to have this work done by a professional electrician. National electrical code changes for and USA participation in International Energy Agency activities related to photovoltaics safety and grid interconnection.

NEC National Fire Protection Association. Home Wiring Hazards. Consumer Products Four Commission. Montana Department of Labor and Industry. In This Article Expand. Wiring for a 4-Prong Dryer Receptacle. When to Call a Professional. Tips for Installing a Dryer Outlet. Project Overview. Need more help? Talk to an electrician near you Our partners can help you compare quotes from top-rated professionals near you Get a Quote. Advertiser Disclosure.

Instructions

The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which The Spruce receives compensation. Materials 4-slot dryer outlet 4x4-inch electrical box amp double-pole breaker must be compatible with your service panel NM-B cable with ground or EMT conduit and gauge prong wire.

Warning If you are not "prong" with working inside an electrical service panel, this is the point where you should hire an electrician to install the circuit breaker. Article Sources. The Spruce prong only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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