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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > April 2008 > Do new electric dryers come with cords?
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Do new electric dryers come with cords?
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| zzyzzx 2008-04-03, 1:26 pm |
| I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. I was wondering if I should put
in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
just plug in. after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should just
put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
Can someone verify that?
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| zzyzzx wrote:
> I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
Two reasons they don't:
1. Depending on the site wiring, there may be a 3 or 4 wire outlet in
place, or even a wired-in pigtail from the disconnect switch.
2. Not including the cord keeps the price down and eliminates a
possible UL listing hurdle.
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| Chip C 2008-04-03, 1:26 pm |
| On Apr 3, 12:18 pm, zzyzzx <scott21...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
>
> Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
> outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. I was wondering if I should put
> in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
> just plug in. after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
> that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should just
> put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
> and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
>
> Can someone verify that?
The three-prong connectors (or hardwired connections) for dryers and
ranges is an old scheme that involved connecting ground to neutral
inside the appliance. It saved copper but is now regarded as unsafe,
and is against code in many places, certainly around here (where
dryers and ranges are sold with cords). Under certain circumstances, a
fault in a circuit or other appliance anywhere in the house could
result in the entire metal cabinet of the appliance carrying a 120V
charge, just as you're standing on the basement floor loading wet
laundry into it.
Even if local code doesn't require it, I'd say put in a 4-prong outlet
(14-30R for a dryer, 14-50R for a range, and of course you'll need to
run new 4-wire cable of suitable gauge) and have such a cord installed
on the appliance. If the appliance is being converted from a 3-prong
setup, make sure the neutral-to-ground jumper is removed.
Chip C
Toronto
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| DerbyDad03 2008-04-03, 1:26 pm |
| On Apr 3, 12:18=A0pm, zzyzzx <scott21...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. =A0Is that how they all do it?
>
> Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
> outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. =A0I was wondering if I should put
> in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
> just plug in. =A0after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
> that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should just
> put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
> and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
>
> Can someone verify that?
Maybe this will help...
I helped a friend move into a brand new house a few weeks ago. One of
things he asked me to do was change the cord on his old dryer.
It seems that by code the builder had to install a 4 prong outlet, but
his dryer had a 3 prong plug. My friend had to bought a 4 prong cord
and asked me to swap it.
I'd guess that the manufacturers don't know whether the dryer is going
into a old set-up or new, so they leave that up to the consumer.
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| S. Barker 2008-04-03, 1:26 pm |
| To change the house wiring now would be a waste of time. There's nothing
'unsafe' about the three wire setup. Just put a 3 wire cord on the dryer
and be done.
s
"zzyzzx" <scott21230@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c9c16e63-955a-4b8a-9d27-4ec9d904536e@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
>
> Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
> outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. I was wondering if I should put
> in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
> just plug in. after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
> that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should just
> put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
> and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
>
> Can someone verify that?
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DerbyDad03 wrote in message
<82dc737b-e8a5-458a-90a3-a6dcb0fb70cb@s50g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>...
On Apr 3, 12:18 pm, zzyzzx <scott21...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
>
> Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
> outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. I was wondering if I should put
> in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
> just plug in. after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
> that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should
just
> put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
> and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
>
> Can someone verify that?
Maybe this will help...
I helped a friend move into a brand new house a few weeks ago. One of
things he asked me to do was change the cord on his old dryer.
It seems that by code the builder had to install a 4 prong outlet, but
his dryer had a 3 prong plug. My friend had to bought a 4 prong cord
and asked me to swap it.
I'd guess that the manufacturers don't know whether the dryer is going
into a old set-up or new, so they leave that up to the consumer.
*****
Where I live, they won't let you use your cord from the old machine,
even if it's perfectly OK. You have to buy a new one, even if it's the
same type, assuming they are installing it of course. :-)
Cheri
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| John Grabowski 2008-04-03, 1:26 pm |
|
"zzyzzx" <scott21230@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c9c16e63-955a-4b8a-9d27-4ec9d904536e@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>I was in Lowes last night and I noticed that none of the electric
> dryers had electric cords on them. Is that how they all do it?
>
> Reason why I'm asking is because a friend of mine needs a new dryer
> outlet, and it's the 3 prong style. I was wondering if I should put
> in a 4 prong in it's place so when that dryer goes the new one will
> just plug in. after my trip to the store, I'm more inclined to think
> that since maybe new dryers don't come with cords, maybe I should just
> put in another 3 prong plug since that's what the existing dryer has
> and any potential new dryer would need a new cord installed anyway.
>
> Can someone verify that?
In order to properly install a 4 wire dryer receptacle you would have to
have 4 wires available at the electrical box. You need 2 hots, a neutral
conductor, and a grounding conductor. Armored cable can be used as the
equipment ground. Otherwise the three wire receptacle is acceptable to use.
Just tell the salesperson from wherever the new dryer is purchased that it
will require a three wire cord. In many cases they will install the cord
upon delivery.
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| DerbyDad03 2008-04-03, 5:25 pm |
| On Apr 3, 12:43=A0pm, Chip C <chipc_0...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Apr 3, 12:18 pm, zzyzzx <scott21...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> The three-prong connectors (or hardwired connections) for dryers and
> ranges is an old scheme that involved connecting ground to neutral
> inside the appliance. It saved copper but is now regarded as unsafe,
> and is against code in many places, certainly around here (where
> dryers and ranges are sold with cords). Under certain circumstances, a
> fault in a circuit or other appliance anywhere in the house could
> result in the entire metal cabinet of the appliance carrying a 120V
> charge, just as you're standing on the basement floor loading wet
> laundry into it.
>
> Even if local code doesn't require it, I'd say put in a 4-prong outlet
> (14-30R for a dryer, 14-50R for a range, and of course you'll need to
> run new 4-wire cable of suitable gauge) and have such a cord installed
> on the appliance. If the appliance is being converted from a 3-prong
> setup, make sure the neutral-to-ground jumper is removed.
>
> Chip C
> Toronto
er: the entire metal cabinet of the appliance carrying a 120V charge,
just as you're standing on the basement floor loading wet laundry into
it.
I guess I'm safe.
My dryer is on the first floor.
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| Percival P. Cassidy 2008-04-03, 5:25 pm |
| On 04/03/08 03:08 pm DerbyDad03 wrote:
[color=darkred]
[color=darkred]
> er: the entire metal cabinet of the appliance carrying a 120V charge,
> just as you're standing on the basement floor loading wet laundry into
> it.
I don't think so: a properly installed 4-prong setup will have a
separate ground conductor to which the cabinet of the washer will be
connected. AIUI, it is not permitted to have the ground and neutral
connected anywhere other than at the main panel.
Perce
| |
| Pete C. 2008-04-03, 5:25 pm |
|
"Percival P. Cassidy" wrote:
>
> On 04/03/08 03:08 pm DerbyDad03 wrote:
>
>
>
>
> I don't think so: a properly installed 4-prong setup will have a
> separate ground conductor to which the cabinet of the washer will be
> connected. AIUI, it is not permitted to have the ground and neutral
> connected anywhere other than at the main panel.
>
> Perce
In the three wire configuration for a dryer there is a bonding strap
between the ground and neutral terminals *of the dryer*. If there is a
three wire cord set, there is no bonding of the house neutral and ground
since both are not present on a three wire cord set.
It is possible that someone could install a four wire cord set on the
dryer without removing the dryers bonding strap which would result in a
bonding of the house neutral and ground which would not be to code, and
is the situation that was referenced.
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