Two-Prong Versus Three-Prong Dryer Adapters

Design

• Outlets are designed to deliver electricity to points throughout the house, usually accessed from a wall plug-in, for use as needed. In the United States, outlets run on 120 volts and are distinguished by two vertical slots, one slightly longer than the other, and, in the case of three-prong outlets, a third hole that provides a neutral for the system. A four-prong outlet contains two hot wires, a neutral wire, and a ground wire that turns the dryer's contact with the floor into an additional source of protection against electrocution. Though dryers have traditionally been a heavy-draw appliance that relies on 240 volts to run properly, it took a while to catch onto the need for better safety features than a two- or three-prong outlet could provide.

Electrical Draw

• A properly grounded electrical system, such as a three-prong outlet, offers a much higher level of protection than two-prong outlets against accidental electrocution while using your dryer. The majority of these types of appliances have a lot of metal in them, which conducts stray electricity quite well. The high electrical draw of dryers, and potential for accidental electrocution, was the impetus behind the advent of a fourth wire within the outlet. The problem with three prongs is that the system is not truly grounded. Though it is an improvement on the two prong, linking back to the main circuit doesn't do much good if a wire comes loose. By adding a fourth prong, the system gains another level of protection with a true grounding in addition to the neutral wire.

Two-Prong Outlets

• Even though modern building codes have adopted three-prong outlets, and sometimes four, as the de facto construction standard, two-prong outlets can still be found in many older homes. You shouldn't automatically assume they are dangerously unsafe to use. Low-draw appliances such as lamps, televisions and alarm clocks will work perfectly fine, and, in most cases, not offer an undue danger of shock. When it comes to heavy-duty electrical appliances such as a dryer, though, it's a different story.

Considerations

• As mentioned, you can rewire a dryer cord so it will plug into a two-prong outlet, but by doing so, you disable an important safety feature. The most common way a two-prong outlet can cause problems is when a wire comes loose inside it. Instead of flowing back to the fuse box and tripping a breaker, the stray electricity continues unfettered into the dryer, electrifying the entire appliance. It will continue to operate, but the next person to touch it, is likely to have a shocking experience.