Replacing 3 prong dryer cord with 4 prong: Grounding wire
#1
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Replacing 3 prong dryer cord with 4 prong: Grounding wire
Greetings,
I've searched this problem pretty extensively and have been getting some conflicting answers.
I have the Red/White/Black wires connected, that is not an issue.
My problem is how to attach ground. There is currently a green wire attached to the frame of the dryer that goes back into the dryer. There was no wire or bonding strap connecting the frame to the neutral terminal.
However when I follow the green cable currently attached back into the dryer, it reconnects with the white wire coming off of the neutral terminal.
So do I:
1. Disconnect the current ground wire and snip or tape it off, then connect the 4 prong cable's ground.
2. Attach the 4 prong's ground to the same place on the frame so that both grounds are attached to the same place on the frame.
3. Leave the 4 prong's ground disconnected and taped off.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I've searched this problem pretty extensively and have been getting some conflicting answers.
I have the Red/White/Black wires connected, that is not an issue.
My problem is how to attach ground. There is currently a green wire attached to the frame of the dryer that goes back into the dryer. There was no wire or bonding strap connecting the frame to the neutral terminal.
However when I follow the green cable currently attached back into the dryer, it reconnects with the white wire coming off of the neutral terminal.
So do I:
1. Disconnect the current ground wire and snip or tape it off, then connect the 4 prong cable's ground.
2. Attach the 4 prong's ground to the same place on the frame so that both grounds are attached to the same place on the frame.
3. Leave the 4 prong's ground disconnected and taped off.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
#2
Welcome to the forums! First let's find out what you have. Is this a new dryer, or an older one you are putting in place on a new system? Is the wiring to the receptacle 4 wires? Not just a 4 wire receptacle placed there to "cheat" on the 4 wire system.
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Thank you for the warm welcome.
I believe that I understand what you are asking. I'm not an electrician by any means but I popped the face plate off of the four prong receptacle and looked at the wiring. There are four wires coming into the receptacle box and one of them is going into the port slot for the ground.
I would take that to mean that it is in fact properly wired for a four prong dryer.
The dryer is older and older whirlpool and it came with a three prong cord attached. Not sure exactly what year but as I understand it the code changing three prongs to four came out in 1996 so I would guess prior to that.
edit: additional info
I believe that I understand what you are asking. I'm not an electrician by any means but I popped the face plate off of the four prong receptacle and looked at the wiring. There are four wires coming into the receptacle box and one of them is going into the port slot for the ground.
I would take that to mean that it is in fact properly wired for a four prong dryer.
The dryer is older and older whirlpool and it came with a three prong cord attached. Not sure exactly what year but as I understand it the code changing three prongs to four came out in 1996 so I would guess prior to that.
edit: additional info
#4
I would take that to mean that it is in fact properly wired for a four prong dryer.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-question.html
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Yes. First try finding a manual on line and see if it gives clear instructions. We had a fairly long thread a few days ago about a dryer wired with a green wire going to an internal neutral and there seemed to me to be no 100% answer.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-question.html
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-question.html
Also I have read the thread you are referencing, it gets a little off topic but it appears to be regarding installing a 3prong onto a 4prong dryer were as I am wiring a 4prong to a 3prong dryer
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Ok so I think I figured it out.
The manual for my dryer says nothing about how to install a four prong cord. However I did find a manual for a newer model whirlpool with a similar grounding setup that shows how to do both three and for prong.
I followed it and the dryer runs and I haven't been shocked yet.
I disconnected the green wire coming out of the dryer from the frame and attached it to the neutral terminal (white). Then attached the green wire from the cord to the drawer frame.
It runs but smells a bit like something is burning, but that's a battle for another day.
The manual for my dryer says nothing about how to install a four prong cord. However I did find a manual for a newer model whirlpool with a similar grounding setup that shows how to do both three and for prong.
I followed it and the dryer runs and I haven't been shocked yet.
I disconnected the green wire coming out of the dryer from the frame and attached it to the neutral terminal (white). Then attached the green wire from the cord to the drawer frame.
It runs but smells a bit like something is burning, but that's a battle for another day.