Dryer Wall Outlet
01-24-2012, 08:06 PM
#1
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Dryer Wall Outlet
Today I went out to get a new dryer to replace the dead 30 year old dryer that was at my house. I get home with my new to me Kenmore and go to plug it in. Turns out that the plug at the wall is different. Below are the 2 pictures of the wall outlet and plug. What do I need to do to make the wall outlet work with the plug on the dryer?
The plug in the wall seems to be missing top center prong.
The plug in the wall seems to be missing top center prong.
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01-24-2012, 08:16 PM
#2
looks like you need a hammer drill and a bit. pretty straight forward.
ideally, spit on the bit so it is slightly lubricated to penetrate the plastic on the wall outlet.
You will know success when you feel it.
Good luck. web cam it.
** make sure its 220, change plug? make sure to trip breaker and test for power. You can die from it. Best to call electrician instead of dying like a fail baus.
ideally, spit on the bit so it is slightly lubricated to penetrate the plastic on the wall outlet.
You will know success when you feel it.
Good luck. web cam it.
** make sure its 220, change plug? make sure to trip breaker and test for power. You can die from it. Best to call electrician instead of dying like a fail baus.
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01-24-2012, 08:41 PM
#6
Pretty straight forward to change the cord to a 10/3.
http://homerenovations.about.com/od/...ryeroutlet.htm
http://homerenovations.about.com/od/...ryeroutlet.htm
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01-24-2012, 08:52 PM
#7
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Over the years, there have been a couple of different standards for electric dryer plugs in the US. The primary difference between the old receptacle in your wall (NEMA code 10-30R) and the new plug in your hand (14-30P) is that the latter uses separate connections for ground and neutral. The voltage is always the same (240 split-phase) and the amperage is the same (30 amps.)
You have three options:
1: You can take the cord from your old dryer and install it onto the new dryer. Dryer cords are easily replaceable, for this specific reason. When installing the old cord onto the new dryer, you will need to bind the ground (typically green or bare) and neutral (typically white) wires together inside the dryer.
2: Same as 1, but with a new cord. You can still buy 'em at any hardware store.
3: Upgrade the receptacle in your wall to a 4-prong style. This is probably the most difficult, and is no safer than options 1 or 2, since your house wiring is still only 3 wire rather than 4 wire.
You have three options:
1: You can take the cord from your old dryer and install it onto the new dryer. Dryer cords are easily replaceable, for this specific reason. When installing the old cord onto the new dryer, you will need to bind the ground (typically green or bare) and neutral (typically white) wires together inside the dryer.
2: Same as 1, but with a new cord. You can still buy 'em at any hardware store.
3: Upgrade the receptacle in your wall to a 4-prong style. This is probably the most difficult, and is no safer than options 1 or 2, since your house wiring is still only 3 wire rather than 4 wire.
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01-24-2012, 09:04 PM
#8
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I will be going up to lowes or home depot in the morning and getting a new 3 prong cord for the dryer. Unfortunately my old cord is on the old dryer which will be hitting a scrap yard in the morning. Looking at instructions online swapping cords looks very easy.
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01-24-2012, 11:03 PM
#10
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It is in the back of a friends pickup truck, which is further away then lowes. My time is also worth more then the time it would take to get out there. A new cord is less then $20 which definitely does not break the bank.
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01-25-2012, 08:14 AM
#13
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If the rest of the wiring in your house is up to par with that dryer outlet you probably have no grounds anywhere.
If its easy to rewire, run a new wire 10/3 to your panel (which is probably full of fuses and not breakers)
If you don't care, and you probably don't since you haven't done anything yet already.
Go pick up a new plug-in and leave out the grounding wire when you wire it up.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_conne...her_2_wires_go
If its easy to rewire, run a new wire 10/3 to your panel (which is probably full of fuses and not breakers)
If you don't care, and you probably don't since you haven't done anything yet already.
Go pick up a new plug-in and leave out the grounding wire when you wire it up.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_conne...her_2_wires_go
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01-25-2012, 10:27 AM
#16
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I have installed the new 3 prong cord on the dryer and tested it. The dryer turns on and does stuff. Now to start a load of laundry so I can actually test the drying capabilities later today.
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