How do you change dryer plugs?

Answer 1

for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

A new 240 volt socket outlet needs to be installed so that you can then just plug the new dryer into it.

Call a licensed electrician.

Here are more answers from WikiAnswers contributors:

• It depends on the outlet in your home, it will be either a 3 or 4 prong outlet. Both cords get wired identically with one minor difference. A 3 prong will have 2 hot leads( black and red) that connect to the outer 2 terminals, and the white neutral wire goes to the center terminal. On a 4 prong cord there is an additional green ground wire that connects to the green grounding screw. Remember to secure the cord with a strain relief clamp.

• You will need to cut power to your breaker box or fuse panel. Then insure you have the capacity to add this 30 amp circuit breaker and space for a new breaker or fuse holder. Now run 10-3 cable to the laundry room and into a dryer receptacle box. Wire up a 4-prong dryer outlet. Lastly connect the hot leads to the appropriate terminals and the neutral and ground wires to the relevant screws. Then insert the circuit breaker or fuse holder and restore the power.

Lowe's.com has a very good tutorial on how to wire 240 volt receptacles including the hookups in the fuse box.

• Under the dryer is a connection box that can be accessed through the back of the dryer. Inside you will find either 4 wires or 3 wires. On a 4 wire dryer, there will be a red wire and a black wire along with a white and a green. The red and black are your 240 Volt feeds to the dryer unit. The white is the neutral wire. It will connect to the neutral terminal inside the dryer unit. The green wire should be attached to the dryer's casing and the main frame of the dryer. Use a large romex compression fitting for the cord and insert it into the knock out plug in the cover of the termination box.

• If you mean "How do I install my new dryer receptacle" then you have received the wrong answer. However if you want to know how to install a power cord you have received the correct answer. To install a dryer receptacle, shut the power off at the main supply panel. On that panel there is usually a 30 amp double pole breaker for the dryer circuit. Remove your old receptacle and look at how it is wired: black is one hot phase and red is the other hot phase (usually brass screw-downs on either side of the neutral} which is actually just a ground at the panel. But if it is a four wire receptacle there will be an additional lug for the green or bare ground wire. Cut your wires a little long or they won't bend very easily. Remount it and test for continuity to ground on both the neutral and the ground wire before energizing the breaker. Put your hand on the breaker handle, turn your head away from the panel and turn on the power. Or it's best to call an electrician first!

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 2

You'll have to change the wiring and the receptacle. Your oven is most likely 4-wire, and your dryer circuit is 3-wire. Even if your oven is 3-wire, it will need more amperage than the dryer. Ovens typically require 30-40 amps, which will require a circuit (wire and breaker) rated for 40-50 amps. The range plug is designed to go into a 240v, 50a receptacle, so I would make my new circuit 50 amps, with 8/3 (with ground) romex. <><><> As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed. Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 3

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 4

Buy the appropriate dryer outlet. Loads are black and red, neutral is white, gnd is green or bare stranded. Many receptacles will have marks to identify the wires, use the marks to match up and guide you on which wire to put where in the new receptacle. Be sure to turn off the breaker or remove the fuse to the outlet before you begin.

Answer 5

Yes, you can. Don't forget to also convert the stove BREAKER to a dryer BREAKER (otherwise your dryer can someday fry well before the breaker trips).