The grounder prong broke off my dryer's plug. Can I use an extension cord with a grounder on the dryer's plug?

Answer 1

For just a few dollars you can replace the cord on your dryer or replace just the plug end. Take the old cord or cord end into your hardware store so it can be matched exactly. My answers below assume you have a gas dryer and your electrical cord is a simple 110v 3-prong plug.

If your question means you want to cut off the extension plug and splice it into the dryer plug, there is no simple answer. I will walk you through the issues at hand because many people do this not knowing what they are doing.

First, it is a violation of code since splices are supposed to be contained inside a box of some kind. There are boxes for this purpose but they are not your usual boxes used in electrical installations. Your local hardware store can help you find the right box. It must be made for this application.

Next, the size of conductors probably do not match. The extension cord conductors are likely much smaller than your dryer plug conductors. This creates a possible fire hazard. In a pinch, many things are done that aren't quite right but without knowing the size of conductors I cannot give you a better answer. Most likely, the smaller conductors would be so short that their size won't make a difference. This is where experience plays a huge role in making this repair safely.

And finally, the splice should be made in such a way that pulling on the cord will not pull the splices apart. This is where experience comes in. I am confidant that I could do it but it will create a large visible splice. Trying to make it nice and neat will cause problems with the splice. This is where the box mentioned above comes in because it will help you eliminate this problem.