How to Install an Electric Plug in a Dryer
You purchased your first dryer and you were not informed that dryers do not come with a plug attached to them. Before you call anyone to complain, there is a justifiable reason for why your dryer has no plug. Newer homes must follow National Electrical Code that states the dryer must be grounded. Therefore the dryer must have a four-prong plug. Many older homes, however, still have ungrounded dryer outlets that allow only plugs with three prongs. Your dryer can have either plug installed and you can do this installation yourself. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Determine which dryer plug you need to install by noting if your outlet has four openings for a four-prong plug or three openings for three-prong plug.
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2
Locate the dryer cord access panel on the back of the dryer. The panel is located toward the top of the dryer and is about 4 inches by 6 inches or 4 inches by 4 inches in size. Remove the access panel by removing the screws holding the panel to the dryer.
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3
Thread the dryer cord through the strain relief connector located next to the access panel. The strain relief connector, when tightened on the cord, keeps the cord from pulling accidentally from the dryer.
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4
Install a four-prong plug. A four-prong dryer plug has four wires: red, black, white and green. Each wire has a ring terminal attached to its end. Locate the terminal block inside the dryer access panel. The terminal block is a black piece of plastic with three screws attached on it. The white wire attaches to the middle screw and the red and black wires attach to the left and the right screws. It does not matter which screws the red and black attach to as long as they are not connected to the middle screw. Attach the green wire to the green ground screw on the dryer's body. Tighten all screws.
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5
Install a three-prong dryer plug. The three-prong dryer plug is often gray with three wires. The middle wire of the three-prong dryer plug is considered the neutral wire. Place the neutral wire on the middle screw of the dryer terminal block. Place the remaining wires on the left and the right screws. It does not matter which screw the left and the right wires attach to as long as they are not connected to the middle screw. Tighten all screws.
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6
Replace the access panel and plug the dryer into the outlet.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not test to make sure the plug fits into the dryer outlet before you install it onto your dryer.
References
- Photo Credit laundry dial image by Sirena Designs from Fotolia.com
