Nice Changing 3 Prong To 4 Prong Dryer Outlet

You may find that a newer dryer doesn t fit an older style outlet or that an older clothes dryer doesn t fit a newer outlet.

Changing 3 prong to 4 prong dryer outlet. Homeowners owning older dryers with 3 prong cords are sometimes perplexed when they move into a home that has a newer 4 slot outlet. If you want to replace your three prong dryer outlet with a four prong one you have to run a ground wire back to the panel and connect it to the panel s ground bus. This is a very simple process to change from the older late 90 s early 2000 s 3 prong dryer electrical cord to the modern 4 prong.

Existing homes may still use 3 prong outlets. Before the mid 1990s most electric clothes dryers operated with three prong plugs that fit into three slot outlets but since 1996 the electric code has required four slot outlets. In this instance the solution is to replace the old 3 prong cord with a 4 prong cord to match the new outlet.

Most home improvement stores such as lowes and home depot sell both 3 prong and 4 prong dryer cables for about 20 25 bucks. Let s talk diy electrical wiring tips. As long as you have access to a phillips head screwdriver you can easily change out the dryer cord.

Basically all the 4th pro. The switch to a 4 prong outlet was due to a flaw in the 3 prong outlet design. A 3 prong dryer cord was the standard for dryers prior to 2000.

The national electrical code currently requires 4 prong dryer outlets in all new home construction. If you ve wondered how to convert a 3 wire dryer electrical outlet to 4 wire dryer outlet then wonder no more. There are a couple of different scenarios ways workarounds one of which is to purchase a new dryer cord.