Is It Possible for a 220 Plug to Not Put Out Enough Juice to Power a Dryer?

Electric Dryer Wiring

• Most electric dryers operate on 110 to 120 volts for the motor and controls, and 220 to 240 volts for the heating elements. The dryer has a cord with a plug that connects to a receptacle. The receptacle wiring is protected by a 30 amp circuit breaker. The higher 220 volt current is supplied by combining two 110-volt wires. A third wire, called the neutral wire, allows the motor and controls to use just 110 to 120 volts. In addition to the three wires that carry current, a fourth wire acts as a ground to prevent electric shocks.

Poor Heat

• If a dryer only produces cool or warm air and the motor and other controls operate, the dryer probably requires repair. One or more heating elements may have burned out and only be providing warm, but not hot, air. This results in longer run times and clothes that won't dry. The dryer thermostat may need replacement if it no longer turns the heating elements on or off or only allows the heating elements to get warm and not hot. Other possibilities include a malfunctioning control mechanism that selects the heat level or an internal fuse that prevents the dryer from overheating.

Wiring Issues

• When tests reveal the heating elements, thermostat and controls function correctly, the wiring may become suspect. If one of the wires that carries current to the dryer is faulty or disconnected, the dryer won't produce heat, but the motor and controls may still operate. A simple test reveals the wiring problem: A voltage meter registers zero volts across the two 110-volt hot wires and between the faulty hot wire and the neutral. The voltage reads 110 volts between the properly operating hot wire and the neutral.

Circuit Breaker Trips

• A circuit breaker that frequently trips might indicate a serious problem, or the circuit breaker might be worn out and need replacement. A short circuit within the dryer can trip a breaker, and so will a short in the wiring. Both issues need immediate attention. But circuit breakers do wear out over time. The older they become, and they more often they are used, the more likely are to fail. A breaker that is worn trips sooner than a breaker that is new. It then appears the circuit cannot put out enough "juice" to operate the dryer.