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• 3 Prong Dryer Extension Cord

The GE 3-Prong 4 ft. 30-Amp Dryer Cord is provided on terminal end to relieve strain. It is perfectly suitable to use with most leading brand free-standing electric dryers. It is easy to hook up with ring terminals. When moving a newer electric dryer into an older house, it's not uncommon to find that the cord and plug included with the new dryer doesn't fit the 240-volt electric outlet. Before the mid-1990s, most electric clothes dryers operated with three-prong plugs that fit into three-slot outlets, but since 2000, the electric code has required four-slot outlets. Note: It's still legal to use a dryer with a 3-prong cord and an older-style receptacle. For example, if you buy a new dryer set up for a 4-prong cord, you can replace the cord with a 3-prong version to fit a 3-slot receptacle in your home.

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3 Prong Dryer Extension Cord

Replacing a three-prong clothes dryer cord with a four-prong cord lets the dryer operate in homes with newer four-prong outlets. Three-prong dryer cords have three wires -- a neutral wire, usually white, and two hot wires, one black and one red. Four-prong dryer cords have four wires including the neutral and two hots plus a green ground wire. Most dryers accept four-prong cords, even when an older cord was original to the unit. If the unit already has a four-prong cord, the new one is installed the same way as the old one.

1

Unplug the dryer and move it out from the wall. Microstation v8i crack download. Trace the dryer cord to where it enters the dryer housing. A removable, metal plate covers a larger opening where the cord enters the housing.

2

Remove the screws that hold the plate on the dryer housing and remove the plate. Some have small machine screws with a hex-shaped head and some have slots for a flat or Phillips screwdriver. Turn each of the screws counterclockwise using a small adjustable wrench or screwdriver. If the plate doesn't have screws, it lifts off the housing.

3

Loosen and remove the terminal screws that secure the ends of the existing dryer cord wires to the terminal block. The center screw, which is for the neutral wire, should be silver. The outer two screws should be yellowish brass. Remove the old dryer cord and set it aside. Save the screws.

4

Loosen the screw that is centered slightly below the top middle screw. With some dryers, this screw is green and holds a small, thin, metal ground strap in place; other dryers have a ground wire. Remove the strap or wire.

5

Connect the white wire of the new dryer cord to the top, center spot on the terminal block using the silver screw that held the neutral wire of the old cord. Connect the black wire to the left spot on the terminal block and the red to the right spot using the brass screws. The green wire, which is the ground, is connected in the spot where you removed the ground strap or wire.

Things You Will Need

• Small adjustable wrench
• Phillips or flat-head screwdriver
• Small cup or container

Tips

• Vacuum out dust and lint inside the dryer housing and vent hose before putting the dryer back into service.
• If there is an abundance of lint, the hose might be installed improperly, kinked or defective. Lint is a fire hazard, so replace a worn hose or reinstall the old one properly before using the dryer.
• Some dryers have a green ground screw in a different location, to the side of the terminal block or sometimes on the dryer housing. A green screw is for the ground wire, and that is where the green ground wire of the four-prong cord is connected.

Warnings

• Some older dryers don’t have a spot for the ground wire of a four-prong cord. It is not safe to leave the ground wire loose.
• Never connect the ground wire to another spot on the terminal block or in the same spot as a hot or neutral wire. An appliance repair person or electrician can quickly update the dryer by adding a ground screw in the correct location.
• If there are any burned or charred marks on the terminal block or any corrosion around the screws, the appliance requires professional attention. Don't install a new cord until a repair person has determined whether the appliance is safe to use. It may require a new terminal block.

About the Author

Carole Oldroyd, a writer based in East Tennessee, has authored numerous DIY home improvement, Human Resources, HR and Law articles. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property.

Photo Credits

• Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

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