Glory Replace 3 Prong Outlet With 4 Prong

As long as you have 3 x 10 gauge wires ground you should be ok to put in a 4 prong outlet.

Replace 3 prong outlet with 4 prong. In this instance the solution is to replace the old 3 prong cord with a 4 prong cord to match the new outlet. You can simply replace the cord on your new dryer with one that s compatible. The connections are very simple on the appliance and the screw terminals will usually have indications as to which wire connects where.

Ask your own electrical question. Answered in 11 minutes by. Electrifier master electrician replied 10 years ago.

So why did the nec make the decision to switch from 3 prong to 4 prong dryer outlets in new homes. The other option is to replace the four prong cord with a three prong cord. However be aware that it s still legal to use 3 slot outlets the code has no requirement that they must be replaced with 4 slot outlets.

Can i just replace the pigtail with a new 4 prong. It is only new installations where the four slot dryer receptacles are required. I have an oven stove unit that has a three prong 220 pigtail but the outlet requires a 4 prong pigtail.

This is a job for an electrician and it brings the circuit up to code. Therefore it is code compliant to continue to use your existing 3 prong outlet and simply replace the 4 prong cord on the appliance with a 3 prong cord that matches your existing outlet. The 3 prong outlets were indeed designed to bootleg the ground to the neutral which was a bad idea.

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. As one website noted. This is an allowable remedy under the electrical code which grandfathers in older installations.