How do you install a 3 prong dryer cord on a Maytag dryer?

How to Install a Three-Prong Power Cord on a Maytag Dryer

Pull the dryer away from the wall, and unplug the existing power cord from the 220-volt outlet.
Loosen the screws on the dryer's electrical cover on the back of the dryer, and remove the cover.
Loosen and remove the screw connecting the green ground wire to the dryer cabinet with a Phillips screwdriver.

Also asked, can you put a 4 prong cord on a 3 prong dryer?

Answer: You don't. It is not possible to install a four prong outlet using only three wires either legally or safely. Put the three prong outlet back and install a new three-prong cord on the dryer.

Likewise, how do you replace a dryer power cord? How to Replace a Dryer Power Cord

Unplug the dryer. Remove the cover over the wiring terminal block by undoing the cover screws.
Slide the new cord into the dryer chassis through the strain relief clamp that held the old cord.
Tighten the terminal nuts or screws.
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Accordingly, does a 3 prong dryer cord need a ground?

The old style of 3-prong dryer cords did not include a ground wire. Changes in the National Electrical Code now require dryers to be wired with a ground wire. When using an old 3-prong cord, the neutral wire had to be tied to the ground connection on the case of your dryer, which is metal.

How do you hook up a power cord to a dryer?

Connect the green cord wire to the ground screw. Connect the white cord wire to the center neutral terminal. If your dryer has a pre-attached white wire, both wires will be connected the neutral terminal. Connect the black cord wire to either the left or right terminal, next to the center neutral.

26 Related Question Answers Found

What color wire goes where on a dryer?

A 4-wire cord consist of a 4 conductor cable with wires colored coded as Black (Hot), Red (Hot), White (Neutral) and Green (Ground). In a 4-wire circuit, the neutral and ground are isolated. The connections on your dryer should have three connection terminals. Left is hot - middle is neutral - and right is hot.

How do you change an appliance plug?

How to Change Appliance Cords and Plugs

Cut off the cord about 2 inches above the plug.
Squeeze the two prongs of the new plug together (like you squeeze tweezers) so you can pull them out of the casing.
Slip the cord through the plug casing.
If the prongs are on a single unit with crimp-style connectors, open the prongs by gently pulling them apart.

Are 3 prong dryer cords safe?

3-prong dryer cords contain two 'hot' wires along with a third wire that contained both the ground and neutral wire. If a current happened to make its way onto the ground wire, it could travel up to the dryer. The good news is that you don't have to purchase a new dryer if the current outlet in your home doesn't match.

Which is the hot wire on a 3 prong plug?

The color code is standard in electrical wiring. The black wire is the hot wire. It becomes energized as soon as you insert the plug into a working receptacle. The white wire is known as the neutral or return wire.

How do you wire a 3 prong plug with 2 wires?

An appliance with only two wires will be double- insulated not requiring an earth wire. Connect the two wires to the live and neutral prongs of the 3-prong plug. If the wires are color-coded, make sure to connect live to live terminal and neutral to the neutral terminal.

Can you use an extension cord for a clothes dryer?

Furthermore, extension cords should not be installed inside of walls and used permanently, because they're unshielded and not heat-resistant, whereas true romex electrical wire is. As for using extension cords to power high-wattage appliances like a space heater or a hair dryer, it's generally frowned upon.

What does a 3 prong outlet look like?

3-Prong Outlets

The standard 3-prong receptacle is called a grounding receptacle because it allows a grounding wire to be connected from the electrical circuit to the appliance. This grounding path serves as a primary safety means if there is a short circuit or other damage to the electrical circuit or appliance.

What size wire do I need for a dryer?

Clothes dryers require a relatively thick wire to accommodate their 30 amp circuit. The minimum recommended wire size for clothes dryer circuits is 10 gauge. However, amperage decreases over distance, so appliance manufacturers advise a larger wire gauge for circuits that extend beyond a distance from their source.

What happens if a 3 prong outlet is not grounded?

This is a common defect at old houses, and sometimes at newer homes where some hack has been messing with the wiring. An ungrounded three-prong outlet increases the potential for shocks or electrocution, and prevents surge protectors from doing their job, which may allow for damage to electronic components.

Where does the ground wire go on a 3 prong dryer outlet?

Originally, there was a green wire on the cord itself, and that was connected to the screw on the top of the first picture. This is, I assume, used to ground the case and prevent shocks when touching the exterior of the dryer. Now with the 3-pronged plug, there is no ground wire on the cord.

What wires go on a 3 prong plug?

Wiring a 3 Prong Plug

The power cord has a white wire, green wire, and a black wire. The white wire is connected to the silver or light colored screw, the green wire is connected to the green screw and the black wire is connected to the gold or dark colored screw.

What happens if the ground wire is not connected?

The appliance will operate normally without the ground wire because it is not a part of the conducting path which supplies electricity to the appliance. In the absence of the ground wire, shock hazard conditions will often not cause the breaker to trip unless the circuit has a ground fault interrupter in it.

Are all 3 prong dryer cords the same?

Know The Difference

Both have three prongs. The two flat prongs closest to the cord are “hot,” each feeding 110/120 volts to total 220/240 volts to the range or the dryer. The third prong (the one furthest from the wire) serves as both the “neutral” and the ground wire.

Can you install a 3 prong outlet without ground?

3-prong outlets without ground are legal if they are GFCI protected, with "GFCI protected" and "No equipment ground" stickers.

Where does the ground wire go on a dryer?

Some dryers have a green ground screw in a different location, to the side of the terminal block or sometimes on the dryer housing. A green screw is for the ground wire, and that is where the green ground wire of the four-prong cord is connected.

Does dryer need to be grounded?

Your dryer chassis is not connected to ground in any way. It needs to be connected to at least a grounded conductor, i.e. a neutral. Think of it like this: that ground wire coming from inside your dryer needs to be connected to a means so the electricity can return to its source in the event of a fault.