Lowes Dryer Installations

[jamesguy10]

The Lowes in my area is asking customers if thier old laundry dryer is 3 or 4 prong and then when they buy a new dryer, if they answered three prong, the nice people at lowes are "helping the customer" by suggesting the 3 prong cord over upgrading to 4 prong. I cant possibly see how this helps them, and it is better for everyone just to upgrade

 

[mdshunk]

Something's wrong with your story. Regular domestic clothes dryers don't come with a cord of any sort, and it is common all across this country for appliance delivery and setup people to install such cords. I don't like the practice, but it persists. It remains permissible to install a 3-prong cord on a range or dryer if the house is already equipped with a 3-prong receptacle.

 

[dereckbc]

I agree the Dryers come with both 3 and 4-wire cord sets to accomidate both set-ups.

 

[wbalsam1]

The Lowes in my area is asking customers if thier old laundry dryer is 3 or 4 prong and then when they buy a new dryer, if they answered three prong, the nice people at lowes are "helping the customer" by chopping off the 4 prong cord and putting a three prong on so they dont have to change it. This is ridiculous and upsetting. Is there someone i can call to turn them in for this?

Are the people at Lowes adapting the dryer (changing the supplied 4-wire cord to a 3-wire cord) to fit the 3-wire circuit in the customer's house? If so, and they used the neutral bonding strap within the new dryer it would allow a fault current to get back to the ocpd as per 250.140. This would make sense to me.
What I wouldn't like is if they adapted a 4-wire dryer to a 3-wire cord without bonding the neutral to the frame.
Of course, if the dryer is not intended to be dual-purpose and Lowe's was adapting the unit to something outside of its' listing/labeling or manufacturer's instructions, now there's a problem with 110.3(B).

As far as who to report a bona-fide complaint to, other than the obvious answer of the manager...I would try the Building Department of Amsterdam, NY 518 842-7961. If no satisfaction there, call Department of State Codes Division (518 474-4073) and they will put you in touch with the Regional Engineer in charge of oversight of building officials for the Amsterdam area. Try to resolve it locally first, though.

 

[jamesguy10]

The dryer was supplied with a 4 wire cord and the lowes installation service changes it to accomidate their needs. Im not an appliance guy, i just replace 3 wire circuits with 4 when smart people get new dryers and realize the need to change. This just happened to my father and i was a little upset at lowe, thats all.

 

[iwire]

James, are you aware the NEC allows the use of a 3 wire cord on a dryer or range with an existing outlet?

 

[JohnConnolly]

James, are you aware the NEC allows the use of a 3 wire cord on a dryer or range with an existing outlet?

Heh heh..he is now.

 

[petersonra]

The dryer was supplied with a 4 wire cord and the lowes installation service changes it to accomidate their needs. Im not an appliance guy, i just replace 3 wire circuits with 4 when smart people get new dryers and realize the need to change. This just happened to my father and i was a little upset at lowe, thats all.

There is over 100 years of experience with 3 wire plugs on ranges and dryers and very little in the way of problems.

There are plenty of things to get worked up about, IMO, this is not one of them.

 

[peter d]

The dryer was supplied with a 4 wire cord and the lowes installation service changes it to accomidate their needs. Im not an appliance guy, i just replace 3 wire circuits with 4 when smart people get new dryers and realize the need to change. This just happened to my father and i was a little upset at lowe, thats all.

I will agree with you that a 4 wire circuit is a "better" installation, and if you can convince your customers to update them, then that's great.

But as the others have said, an existing 3-wire circuit is permitted to remain.

 

[mdj1320]

the reason for 4 wire is for the lights and the extra bells and whistles

 

[mdshunk]

the reason for 4 wire is for the lights and the extra bells and whistles

Brother, you are sorely mistaken. The dryer will have the exact same functionality, wither wired as 3-wire or 4-wire. Four-wire is preferable for the same reasons we separate grounds and neutrals in a subpanel.

 

[jamesguy10]

I know its allowed by code, I just dont appreciate lowes suggesting using 3 prong over upgrading to 4 prong

 

[iwire]

I know its allowed by code, I just dont appreciate lowes suggesting using 3 prong over upgrading to 4 prong

To each their own, I don't appreciate homeowners being told that they have to replace a circuit when they do not.

There is over 100 years of experience with 3 wire plugs on ranges and dryers and very little in the way of problems.

There are plenty of things to get worked up about, IMO, this is not one of them.

I agree with this entirely.

 

[Brady Electric]

To each their own, I don't appreciate homeowners being told that they have to replace a circuit when they do not.

Iwire, I agree with you and Dennis. Around here the cord does not come with the Dryer or Range. Lowes and Home Depot usually ask people what kind of wiring they have, especally since they don't gain anything but a couple of dollars in price difference of the cords. Some Electricians take advantage of HO's buy telling them they need to update and I don't like that. Semper Fi. Buddy

 

[jacobsond]

Is someone suggesting that if you buy a new appliance instead of hooking up to the "plug"you have to run a new circuit? I have been in the appliance business for more than 20yrs and a cord has never come with a dryer,range or dishwasher. You put on a cord that matches what the customer has for a circuit. As long as the circuit was code compliant at the time is was installed there is no problem.The Lowes guy is asking the customer what kind of plug they have so he can sell them the proper equipment. Whats next? Any existing ungrounded circuits must be brought up to 2005 codes?
Imm just a low volt guy so what do I know? Im just trying to learn

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I know its allowed by code, I just dont appreciate lowes suggesting using 3 prong over upgrading to 4 prong

That's your take on it. What I don't appreciate is when a home center electrician-wannabe convinces a homeowner they MUST rip out a perfectly good 3-wire dryer circuit because "the code is now 4-wire only."

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Sometimes these home center clerks are either parrotting something they heard and thought they understood, or, they're making it up because they don't want to tell the customer the vendor shipped another 4 cases of 4-wire cords instead of the 3-wire cords that were ordered.

 

[charlie b]

I bought a dryer about a year ago. It might even have been at that "L" store. I seem to recall that I did not get the "3-wire or 4-wire" question, until the delivery/installation guys arrived.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I guess the issue is really "Are the appliances dealers legally allowed to put a cord on the range/dryer?"

That is really what is at stake here. They are not licensed but I don't know that they have to be to install the cord. I have seen some shoddy installs--no connectors, covers not replaced, etc. I have seen licensed guy do just as bad an installation as anyone else.

We provide the receptacle but I have seen 4 wire cords put on by others without taking off the ground strap so the neutral and grounds were separated.

So-- are they allowed to do this work and should they be allowed to do this work. I say "NO" they shouldn't but what is the law on this issue?

I agree with the statement if there is a 3 wire branch circuit existing then you don't have to upgrade to a 4 wire circuit to be code compliant.

 

[Sass5150]

mdj1320, I disagree. The reason for the 4 wire is to isolate the nuetral from the equipment grounding conductor. When you have a 3 wire set up and you use the bonding jumper as you should the outside shell of the dryer becomes a current carrying conductor. In the right situation, a HO could recieve a shock. Like leaning on the dryer while replacing the washer hose. Or touching a range and the stainless steel sink at the same time. It happened to me when I was @ 11 at my aunts house. Not saying this is a given,but it could happen.
...Bob