three prong dryer...four prong recepticle

[Anonymous]

Posted by: sneakypig (old forum transfer)
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 12:07 am

Hello - I have recently purchased both a new house and a new dryer. The house was built around 1958 and in the laundry room where the washer and dryer go is a four pronged recepticle. There ia a standard 120v three prong outlet I can stretch the cord to, but it's not ideal. It would be perfect if I could convert the four prong outlet to a usable three prong. Also, it seems a waste for this designated 30amp line to go unused. As it is now, while the dryer is hooked to the three pronged outlet (stretched to reach) the lights dim when it is in use.

Any advice you may have would be of great help.

Thank you.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 10:32 am

If you have an electric heat style dryer then you must use a 30 amp dryer plug [3 prong if existing and 4 prong if new branch circuits.

I don't see how you could plug your dryer into a three prong 120 volt receptacle if you had an electric heat dryer.

If you have a gas dryer then you need to plug into a receptacle just like the receptacle that the washer if plugged into.

If you have an electric heat style dryer then you will need to exchange your three prong dryer pigtail with a 4 prong dryer cord and remove the grounding jumper found installed between the terminal block inside your dryer where the cord is connected. The grounidng jumper will be connected to the silver center screw of the terminal and the metal case of the dryer. Ten minute job but only if you have a 220 volt electric heat dryer. If a gas heat dryer plug into the washer's 120 volt receptacle. If you need to reach a bit further than the cord will reach on a gas dryer then you may buy an appliance extension cord that has 12 awg wire with a black white and green wire in that extension cord. Be sure to use only a 12 awg appliance extension cord. Any other smaller extension cord would be a fire hazard.

Let us know how you come out

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: sneakypig
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 11:03 am

Thanks so much. We have a gas dryer. I didn't know the four prong was designated for electric dryers but it makes perfect sense. Sounds like my idea of replacing the four prong outlet with a three prong, using the existing wiring just to give me a designated line to the panel is unnecessary.

The existing dryer cord does reach a three prong outlet but just doesn't look great or entirely safe stretched to reach. I may just move the recepticle....or install another that goes straight to the panel so we don't have the lights dim when dryer in use.

I suppose for the house resale it can't hurt to have a 30 amp line for an electric dryer??...though we will never have one.

thanks for your help.
Steve

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2002 3:02 pm

You thinking is right on track on all counts. You would also be increasing the value of your home if you installed a dedicated laundry 120 volt 20 amp 12/2wGrnd branch circuit to serve you washer and dryer.

If you install that dedicated circuit to your washer and dryer you dimming caused by the washer or dryer would be solved. If it were me I would install two receptacles from that same new branch circuit one receptacle located about 36" from the floor behind the washer then power out of that receptacle to a second receptacle installed again about 36" behind the dryer. This way your cords are hidden yet still within reach from over the applance and both are on a dedicated laundry branch circuit 120 volt 20 amp 12/2wGrnd.

Good Luck and good thinking

Wg