Replace 220volt w/ 240volt


  #1  
Old 03-08-19, 04:57 PM
Z
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Replace 220volt w/ 240volt

Hi,

It's time to replace an old 3prong 220volt Maytag electric clothes dryer w/ a new one.
The new electric clothes dryers use 240volt outlet. Maytag tells me not to use the old 220volt circuit. How difficult is it to replace the 220v circuit w/ a 240v circuit?
Why not use the 220volt outlet?

The dryer is located next to the gas water heater. I wonder if it might be easier to buy/install a gas clothes dryer?

Thanks,

Mike
 
  #2  
Old 03-08-19, 05:39 PM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,036
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
There is no difference between a 220 or 240 volt receptacle in your house.
They might be referring to the old three prong vs new four prong receptacles.
 
  #3  
Old 03-08-19, 05:43 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,816
Received 3,922 Upvotes on 3,518 Posts
Welcome toi the forums.

220v vs 240v receptacle is not the problem. Is your old dryer three prong and the new one is four ?

A second the gas dryer.
 
  #4  
Old 03-08-19, 05:58 PM
Z
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
The 220v 3prong outlet was installed about 30years ago.
Home Depot told me they would sell me a wire male plug that'll work w/ the 240v dryer.
Other users of the 240v dryer are successfully using it on a 220v outlet.
Why does Maytag insist on a 240v 4wire outlet?
 
  #5  
Old 03-08-19, 06:17 PM
pcboss's Avatar
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 13,977
Received 194 Upvotes on 170 Posts
220 is the older outdated.nomenclature for a 240 volt circuit.

A 4 wire circuit has a dedicated ground which makes it safer. If your wiring.does not have 4 conductors it.is still allowed to be used it left unmodified.
 
  #6  
Old 03-08-19, 07:20 PM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,036
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
Your dryer installation manual will have instructions how to wire in the new three prong cord. You will need to move a jumper in the dryer to bond the neutral and ground together.

Take old three wire cord off your old dryer and use it instead of buying a new one.
 
  #7  
Old 03-09-19, 04:47 AM
pugsl's Avatar
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 8,161
Received 77 Upvotes on 70 Posts
FYI Maytag is made by Whirlpool and is the same dryer but usually cost less, Features may be a little different,
 
  #8  
Old 03-09-19, 09:35 AM
Z
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Thanks for taking the time to answer my dumb questions and reassuring me the three prong outlet will work. Also, I was able to locate the installation manual for this dryer and it echoes exactly what you guys are telling me.

Thanks again,
Mike

From the installation manual:
#1 0f 2:

To be sure that the electrical connection is adequate and in
conformance with the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA
70 - latest edition and all local codes and ordinances.
The National Electrical Code requires a 4-wire power supply
connection for homes built after 1996, dryer circuits involved
in remodeling after 1996, and all mobile home installations.
A copy of the above code standards can be obtained from:
National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park,
Quincy, MA 02269.
■ To supply the required 3- or 4-wire, single phase, 120/240
volt, 60 Hz, AC only electrical supply (or 3- or 4-wire,
120/208 volt electrical supply, if specified on the serial/rating
plate) on a separate 30-amp circuit, fused on both sides of
the line. Connect to an individual branch circuit. Do not have
a fuse in the neutral or grounding circuit.

supply cord:
Use a UL listed power supply cord kit marked for use with
clothes dryers. The kit should contain:
■ A UL listed 30-amp power supply cord, rated 120/240
volt minimum, with a temperature rating of 140° F (60° C)
minimum. The cord should be type SRD or SRDT, and
be at least 4 ft. (1.22 m) long. The wires that connect to
the dryer must end in ring terminals or spade terminals
with upturned ends.
■ A UL listed strain relief.
Electrical Connection
To properly install your dryer, you must determine the type of
electrical connection you will be using and follow the instructions
provided for it here.
■ This dryer is manufactured ready to install with a 3-wire
electrical supply connection. The neutral ground conductor
is permanently connected to the neutral conductor (white
wire) within the dryer. If the dryer is installed with a 4-wire
electrical supply connection, the neutral ground conductor
must be removed from the external ground connector (green
screw), and secured under the neutral terminal (center or
white wire) of the terminal block. When the neutral ground
conductor is secured under the neutral terminal (center or
white wire) of the terminal block, the dryer cabinet is isolated
from the neutral conductor.
■ If local codes do not permit the connection of a neutral
ground wire to the neutral wire, see “Optional 3-wire
connection” section.
■ A 4-wire power supply connection must be used when the
appliance is installed in a location where grounding through
the neutral conductor is prohibited. Grounding through the
neutral is prohibited for (1) new branch-circuit installations,
(2) mobile homes, (3) recreational vehicles, and (4) areas
where local codes prohibit grounding through the neutral
conductors.

2 0f 2
4-wire
receptacle
(14-30R)
If your outlet looks like this:
Then choose a 4-wire power supply cord with
ring or spade terminals and UL listed strain
relief. The 4-wire power supply cord, at least
4 ft. (1.22 m) long, must have 4 10-gauge solid
copper wires and match a 4-wire receptacle of
NEMA Type 14-30 R. The ground wire (ground
conductor) may be either green or bare. The
neutral conductor must be identified by a
white cover.
3-wire
receptacle
(10-30R)
If your outlet looks like this:
Then choose a 3-wire power supply cord with
ring or spade terminals and UL listed strain
relief. The 3-wire power supply cord, at least
4 ft. (1.22 m) long, must have 3 10-gauge solid
copper wires and match a 3-wire receptacle of
NEMA Type 10-30R.
If connecting by direct wire:
Power supply cable must match power supply (4-wire or 3-wire)
and be:
■ Flexible armored cable or nonmetallic sheathed copper
cable (with ground wire), covered with flexible metallic
conduit. All current-carrying wires must be insulated.
■ 10-gauge solid copper wire (do not use aluminum) at least
5 ft. (1.52 m) long.
 
  #9  
Old 03-09-19, 10:18 AM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,816
Received 3,922 Upvotes on 3,518 Posts
When it comes time to do the actual cord wiring.... post a picture of the terminal block it if you have questions. I can tell you that the terminals where the power cord install must be tight.
 
  #10  
Old 03-09-19, 11:07 AM
Z
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Will do PJmax.
Thanks again.
 
  #11  
Old 03-10-19, 01:47 PM
CasualJoe's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 9,871
Received 185 Upvotes on 166 Posts
Why does Maytag insist on a 240v 4wire outlet?
They don't. By the way, it isn't a 240 volt outlet, it's a 125/250 volt rated outlet for use on a 120/240 volt circuit. No dryer manufacturer sells a 3-wire or a 4-wire dryer, most of them come from the factory set up for a 3-wire installation, but are easy to switch to a 4-wire installation and no manufacturer installs a dryer cord at the factory. They always have to be purchased separately. Sounds like someone at Home Depot needs some education.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: