If you have to update the wiring or rewire your outlet however you can actually do it easily. Two hot wires and the third contained both ground and a neutral wire.

Dryer Power Cord 3 Prong To 4 Prong How To Wire
Dryer wiring diagram 3 prong. Due to changes in the national electrical code nec recommended wiring for electric clothes dryer outlets changed in 1996before the change dryer outlets were 3 slot devices that accepted 3 prong cords. Wiring a dryer wiring a 240v dryer. This system worked pretty well and is still in use in many homes today but there is more potential for electrical. Read on for some basic instructions on how you can accomplish this task to get your dryer back up and running as soon as possible. This size breaker requires a minimum of a 10 gauge wire so this wire used would be a 102 with ground. This circuit originates from the breaker box containing a 2 pole 30 amp breaker.
Although three pronged dryer cords and outlets are largely outdated some homes can still choose to use them. Lets look a how the electric dryer is wired and what to do if your cord does not match the plug. Simply buy a four prong to three prong adapter. Wiring diagram consists of numerous in depth illustrations that display the connection of various things. You can change the cord or even easier you can use a three prong to four prong plug adapter. Consult the dryer wiring diagram in the user manual.
3 prong cord attach the middle or ground wire to the center terminal one of the outer wires to the right terminal and the other outer wire to the left terminal. It includes directions and diagrams for various varieties of wiring strategies and other things like lights home windows and so on. 3 prong dryer outlet the 3 prong wiring diagram above shows the proper connections for both ends of the circuit. Most electric dryers can be wired to work with either a 3 wire or 4 wire circuit. Before 1996 electric dryers were supplied by a dedicated circuit that had three conductors. You may find yourself with either a 3 wire or 4 wire electric dryer or a 3 wire or 4 wire outlet.
If you have an older electric dryer with a three prong 220 volt plug you have 2 options. The 3 wire configuration is generally found at older homes. This configuration did not include a dedicated ground connection. See an electric dryer installation with a typical 240 volt electric power cord wiring system. The same is true if you buy a new dryer and need to plug it in to an old three wire receptacle. There was no dedicated ground slot on the receptacle outlet and dryer cords had no ground wire or ground prong.
Electrical converting a samsung dryer from a 4 prong cord to a 3 4 prong dryer outlet wiring diagram. The dryers equipment ground case ground was connected to the neutral conductor in the dryer cord and the household circuit. You can still use your dryer.