![]() Be sure to install the strain relief that comes with the new cord.įred’s Appliance Service is capable of installing a new 3-prong or 4-prong cord on either your dryer or range. As long as you have access to a Phillips head screwdriver, you can easily change out the dryer cord. The 'definitively correct way' is to run a ground wire to the socket location (which you can, without needing to follow or replace the present Hot, Hot Neutral wiring, since the 2014 code cycle IIRC) and toss that 3-wire socket in the trash and use a 4-wire cord to a 4-wire plug to a correctly wired 4-wire socket. Most home improvement stores, such as Lowes and Home Depot, sell both 3-prong and 4-prong dryer cables for about $20-$25 bucks. ![]() There are a couple of different scenarios ways workarounds, one of which is to purchase a new dryer cord. The good news is that you don’t have to purchase a new dryer if the current outlet in your home doesn’t match. This eliminates the possibility for a ground current traveling to the machine, as it features a separate return path for unused power. The more recent 4-prong dryer cords feature two hot wires, a neutral wire and a ground wire. If a current happened to make its way onto the ground wire, it could travel up to the dryer. 3-prong dryer cords contain two ‘hot’ wires along with a third wire that contained both the ground and neutral wire. So, why did the NEC make the decision to switch from 3-prong to 4-prong dryer outlets in new homes? Although the old 3-prong outlets were effective at providing power to dryers, they had one major flaw: the ground and neutral wires were grouped together, creating the potential for shock. Existing homes may still use 3-prong outlets, as the NEC changes are limited strictly to new homes. It wasn’t until 1996 when the National Electrical Code (NEC) was updated to require 4-prong dryer outlets in all new homes. Nearly all homes built before this time featured either a 3-prong outlet or range outlet (slightly different than a typical 3-prong dryer outlet). Up until the mid-1990s, 3-prong outlets were the standard used in American homes. ![]() ![]() In an effort to shed some light on this subject, we’re going to discuss the purpose of these cords and why there’s a growing popularity for 4-prong cables. Unfortunately, few people understand the difference between 3-prong and 4-prong dryer cords. Whether you move into a new home that has a different outlet or purchase a new dryer with a different power cord, this is an all-too-common scenario. Most homeowners have run into a problem with trying to hook a 3-prong dryer cord up to a 4-prong outlet, or vice-versa, at one point or another. ![]()
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