3 Prong Vs. 4 Prong Dryer Plugs

3-wire vs 4-wire Outlets

• Homes built before 1996 carry a 3-wire outlet. You can have a certified technician upgrade the outlet to a 4-wire outlet so you can use the 4-wire cord plug. If you have a 4-wire outlet already installed in the house, do not change the outlet back to a 3-wire outlet, as this action is illegal. Always upgrade the the plug. Never try to create a short cut adapter as no such adapter exists on the market due to fire hazard issues.

4-wire Dryer Plug

• There is an easy formula for remembering how to install the 4-wire plug. When screwing in the wires on the dryer back terminal, the red wire goes to the right (R to R), the black wire goes to the left (B to L), the white wire goes in the middle (W to M), and the green grounding wire goes outside the plate to the grounding screw. If you do not have a grounding screw, call the dryer manufacturer for clarification on correct placement. If you have an attached grounding wire on the dryer already, undo the wire and attach it to the white wire terminal. Check with your dryer manufacturer to be sure this is correct for your dryer model.

3-wire Dryer Plug

• These plugs are usually not color coded and do not have the grounding wire included. The right wire goes to the right side screw, the left wire goes to the left screw and the middle wire goes to the middle screw. On older dryers, there is a grounding wire that runs from the terminal to the dryer case. Make sure it is still attached when you install the cord and close the terminal.

Precautions

• Always unplug the dryer cord from the outlet before unscrewing the back terminal plate. Make sure you don't drop a screw into the body of the dryer while removing or installing the plate and cord. Keep a pair of needlepoint pliers handy or use a magnetized probe that will snatch up the screw if it is lost deep inside the dryer bottom.