Electricians....Need Your Help!

[Sully]

I just moved into an older house. My dryer's electric cord has 4 prongs, but the adapter on the wall is a 3 prong style. What should I do? Can I pick up an adapter at Lowe's/Home Depot? Can I just replace the outlet? Do I have to rerun new wire from the breaker box? I'm pretty good with electric, but this is a new one on me. Please help!!

 

Thanks!

[jmc3271647545506]

just change the plug to a3

[Sully]

What's code now-adays for 220?

[Akula]

go buy a new dryer cord, I have to do this every time I move my dryer.

[HAOLE]

I think you can just change the pig tail on you dryer. I did it at my house when I moved in a few years ago.

[Draco-REX]

Hit up Best Buy or any appliance store, they shouldh ave the right cord. New dryers don'e come with power cords for this reason. (Well, I think it's an exscuse to get an add-on sale rather than include one of each w/ the dryer.)

[Sully]

Thanks for the replies and help everyone!! I'll head over to Home Depot tonight after work.

[87GT]

Yeah you just need a new plug. I am pretty sure the difference between a 3 and 4 prong is just extra ground wires.

[mmrmnhrm]

Yeah you just need a new plug. I am pretty sure the difference between a 3 and 4 prong is just extra ground wires.

Sort of... NEMA 6 (240V three prong) is two hots and a ground, NEMA 14 (240/120V four prong) is two hots, a neutral, and a ground. N and G are typically connected to each other at the breaker panel. Older houses use the '6' connector, and if the device required 120V power for something, would take one of the hots and use the ground as the return. Modern electric code frowns on that sort of thing (ground isn't supposed to have any energy on it unless there's a problem), so that's the reason behind the shift to '14' connectors instead.