3 Prong Dryer Plug and 3 Prong Range Receptacle
#1
03-20-15, 04:25 PM
3 Prong Dryer Plug and 3 Prong Range Receptacle
I purchased a home recently and the receptacle for the dryer is a 3 prong range receptacle. I purchased a new dryer and stated I needed the 3 prong plug not realizing it would not fit the range receptacle. Some additional details, 50 amp range receptacle and the breaker is 40 amp. Can i simply get a new dryer cord that has the proper 3 prong end to fit the range receptacle? Do I need to spend the money to get an electrician to install a new 30 amp dryer receptacle? Thanks!
#2
03-20-15, 04:57 PM
Welcome to the forums! Since the house has a three wire set up you can do it, but more modern code requires a 4 wire set up. HOWEVER, you can't use a range receptacle with a dryer, nor can you use a 40 amp breaker. Your dryer runs off a 30 amp breaker and the dryer receptacle will fit the dryer cord. How difficult would it be to bring the circuit up to code ( 4 wire )? Is the breaker panel accessible from this location? That would be preferred.
#3
03-20-15, 05:03 PM
Thank you. This house is an older house. The previous dryer was plugged into this same receptacle, from the looks of it it was quite old and just wore out. The breaker box is in the same utility room as the washer and dryer. Being that the previous dryer was plugged into this receptacle that was running off the 40 amp breaker, would it be bad to plug the new dryer into the same set up?
#4
03-20-15, 05:03 PM
I purchased a new dryer and stated I needed the 3 prong plug not realizing it would not fit the range receptacle.
Some additional details, 50 amp range receptacle and the breaker is 40 amp.
Can i simply get a new dryer cord that has the proper 3 prong end to fit the range receptacle?
Do I need to spend the money to get an electrician to install a new 30 amp dryer receptacle?
#5
03-20-15, 05:10 PM
My electrical skill level is minimal (change outlets). If the old dryer was on this setup, what type of cord was it using? was this a fire hazard nightmare?
#6
03-20-15, 05:15 PM
My electrical skill level is minimal (change outlets). If the old dryer was on this setup, what type of cord was it using?
was this a fire hazard nightmare
#7
03-20-15, 06:36 PM
Group Moderator
IMO this is an existing circuit for a dryer. I see no reason that the breaker can't be changed to a 30 and the receptacle changed to a 3 wire, 30 amp using this circuit.
Being an older house is the circuit run in steel conduit? If so changing it to current code might be fairly easy.
Being an older house is the circuit run in steel conduit? If so changing it to current code might be fairly easy.
