4 pin dryer to 3 pin (grounding question)?

5671 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Scuba_Dave, Jul 7, 2009

nadazip

Discussion Starter · Jul 7, 2009

4 pin dryer to 3 pin (grounding question)?

I have searched the internet thoroughly and have not been able to find a situation just like mine. I am a little nervous about messing with such high voltage stuff but as the price for an electrician was not reasonable i am going to have to do this myself

I have removed the original 4 pin cable which looked like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/creasey/369...

I have now connected my 3 pin cable which looks like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/creasey/369...

The part i am having a hard time clarifying is the jumper band (ground strap). My machine does not have a ground strap, but it does have a white wire that goes to a screw outside of the panel is that the grounding my machine or do i need to run a wire from the center of the block to that outside screw?

I just cannot find a definite answer on this.

From this pic does it look like i have done this correctly?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/creasey/369...

Please let me know if i am good to plug this in or if i need to run an other wire.

Thanks in advance

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InPhase277

· #2 · Jul 7, 2009

Yes it is correct, now. It was incorrect before when the green wire and the white jumper where connected simultaneously. Now go dry your clothes!

P.S.: If four wires were present at the receptacle, it would have been preferable to change that instead of the cord.

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nadazip

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 7, 2009

Thanks for confirming.

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nadazip

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 7, 2009

I live in a much older house and i assumed that it would not be set up at the receptacle. The dryer was brand new is it usual for them to have the four wires set up incorrectly? Was it dangerous in the first place?

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kbsparky

· #5 · Jul 7, 2009

nadazip said:
... The dryer was brand new is it usual for them to have the four wires set up incorrectly? Was it dangerous in the first place?

Yes, it is quite common for ranges and dryers to arrive incorrectly wired with 4 conductor cords. Many times, those are installed by warehouse and/or delivery personnel who have no clue how to properly isolate the neutral conductor from the grounding wire.

Once someone gets electrocuted from such mistakes in wiring, and high dollar lawsuit(s) are filed, those appliance stores will take more steps to ensure that the cords are properly installed.