I have just a simple question on when i put my new dryer in an old apt.. Correct me if i'm wrong but the code to me allows me to change the cord on the dryer to a three wire and bond the neutral to ground or do i change the receptacle to a 4 wire and just tie the ground on the plug to the neutral wire. I BELIEVE i'VE BEEN TOLD TO ALWAYS MAKE THE CORD MATCH THE RECEPT. AND THAT MAKES SINCE TO ME I AM JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE. not used to living in an older apt.
old 3 wire dryer receptacle with 4 wire cord on dryer
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Buck Parrish
Senior Member
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- NC & IN
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
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- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
The NEC reference is 250.140.
Check the wiring method in the dryer receptacle to see if there might be an Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) already there. You'll find that existing metal raceway systems, in some old construction, will be the wiring method. . . if so, there is likely an EGC which can be verified with test instrument. If there is an EGC, install a 4-wire receptacle.
In the existing installation with an ungrounded 3-wire receptacle, the 120/240 or 120/208 V clothes dryer frame is permitted to be bonded to the neutral inside the dryer.
Check the wiring method in the dryer receptacle to see if there might be an Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) already there. You'll find that existing metal raceway systems, in some old construction, will be the wiring method. . . if so, there is likely an EGC which can be verified with test instrument. If there is an EGC, install a 4-wire receptacle.
In the existing installation with an ungrounded 3-wire receptacle, the 120/240 or 120/208 V clothes dryer frame is permitted to be bonded to the neutral inside the dryer.
ericsherman37
Senior Member
- Location
- Oregon Coast
I had this issue when I moved into my house too.
Keep the receptacle as is - the outlet wiring will not properly accomodate a 4-wire dryer plug. I believe most dryers come with a bonding strap or jumper of some sort because of this situation. In this case you'll have to get a 3-wire cord and utilize the jumper to bond the dryer's neutral and ground terminals together. The dryer frame will be grounded through the neutral basically. Not the ideal scenario but sometimes better than the expense of having one of us crawl around with a new 10-3 romex
Actually, that's what I wound up doing on mine eventually.
Keep the receptacle as is - the outlet wiring will not properly accomodate a 4-wire dryer plug. I believe most dryers come with a bonding strap or jumper of some sort because of this situation. In this case you'll have to get a 3-wire cord and utilize the jumper to bond the dryer's neutral and ground terminals together. The dryer frame will be grounded through the neutral basically. Not the ideal scenario but sometimes better than the expense of having one of us crawl around with a new 10-3 romex
Actually, that's what I wound up doing on mine eventually.
Cow
Senior Member
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- Eastern Oregon
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- Electrician
Definitely look in the recep box first. I've found 3 wire receps with a 4 wire cable in the box before with the ground unused.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
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- Electrical Contractor
Why not? It's good enough for your house. :wink:
cschmid
Senior Member
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- Northern cold country
I am confused now..when purchasing new dryers they do not have cords attached just so they can be fitted to the installation. add 3 wire cord where necessary.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
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- Electrical Contractor
The existing circuit conductors control everything else. The receptacle should match the cabling (and will if compliant when installed.) The plug and cord should suit the receptacle, and the machine should be bonded or un-bonded to suit the cord and plug.
Years ago, I rewired an old dryer for a new house. I had to dig way inside the machine to find the bonding jumper between the white and green harness wires. It was old enough that it wasn't really designed to be field-altered, but I'm tenacious. :grin:
Years ago, I rewired an old dryer for a new house. I had to dig way inside the machine to find the bonding jumper between the white and green harness wires. It was old enough that it wasn't really designed to be field-altered, but I'm tenacious. :grin:
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
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- Electrician ,contractor
I am resurecting this thread because in most cases I have encounterd a 10-3 install with a 3 wire outlet.
I just came across an installation where the customer puchased a stacked washer /dryer set-up. The label says 120/240.
In an existing situation is the bare ground wire in the NM-b cable ok to be used as a nuetral. I don't know how much load is on the nuetral or if it's just the timer or frame.
What do you think?
I just came across an installation where the customer puchased a stacked washer /dryer set-up. The label says 120/240.
In an existing situation is the bare ground wire in the NM-b cable ok to be used as a nuetral. I don't know how much load is on the nuetral or if it's just the timer or frame.
What do you think?
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
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- Electrical Contractor
It has never been compliant to use the bare EGC of NM cable as the neutral.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
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- USA
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- Electrician ,contractor
That is what I thought and that is whay I have always found the Ground wire sitting in the box in a change from 3 wire to 4 wire outlets.
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