How to Wire a Three-Prong Dryer Plug

Change the cord not the receptacle.

When you purchase an electric dryer, the cord for your dryer is purchased separately. Dryer connections in homes can either require a three-prong or four-prong dryer cord because of changes made in the electrical requirements. In newer homes the dryer receptacles must be grounded and require four-prong dryer cords, in older homes these receptacles were not grounded. Don't be worried if you are moving into an older home with a brand new dryer, you will be able to wire a three-prong cord.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or flat head screwdriver
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Remove the electrical access panel off of the back of the dryer by removing the screws that hold it onto the dryer's back panel. The access panel is a small and labeled as the dryer cord electrical connection removing it gives you access to the terminal block.

2. Slide the terminal ends of the three-prong dryer plug through the strain relief connector. The strain relief connector holds the dryer cord firmly into the back of the dryer so that it cannot be pulled from the terminal block by accident.

3. Connect the dryer cord to the dryer. A three-prong dryer plug consists of three wires fused together with three terminal connections located at the opposite end of the plug. The center terminal connector is the neutral wire and the two wires located to the right and the left of the center wire are the hot wires. Use pliers to loosen and remove the nuts from the terminals on the dryer. Slide the center wire terminal connector onto the center terminal, slide the left and right wires onto the left and right terminals and replace the nuts onto the terminals and tighten with the pliers.

4. Replace the electrical access panel.

References

• EZ DIY Electricity: How To Change a 4 Prong Electric Dryer Power Cord To a 3 Prong Electric Power Cord
• Self Help and More: Dryer Circuit Wiring and Hookup