Converting 4 prong dryer cord to 3 prong

13 years ago

I need to install a 3 cord electric dryer cord on a machine that had a 4 prong cord as my new outlet is only a 3 prong and I don't have the $$ to upgrade to a 4 prong outlet at this time. In all of the articles I see written about this conversion there is a "terminal" where the wires connect. This is not the case on this machine. The 4-plug wires were connected to the machine wires by male/female metal connectors sheathed in plastic. I will connect the black wire to black wire and red wire to red wire. As for the white wires, do i simply make a connection between these 2 and then ground this connection to the frame of the machine? Also, what do I do w/ the green wire that's left in the machine now?

Thanks

Comments (5)

brickeyee
13 years ago
The installation instructions for the dryer have the correct connections.

In a 3-wire installation the ground and neutral are bonded in the machine with a jumper that is removed for a 4-wire hookup.

Put the bonding jumper back in.
seano815
Original Author
13 years ago
The machine is pretty old so I don't have any installation instructions. I appreciate your response but don't know squat about bonded jumpers, etc. So, just to keep things simple for me, for the white wires, do i simply make a connection between these 2 and then ground this connection to the frame of the machine? Also, what do I do w/ the green wire that's left in the machine now?
Thanks
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hendricus
13 years ago
Connect the green and white of the machine to the incoming white. That will give you your bonding jumper.

Normally there is a terminal block with H H N and a clip that will bond the frame to the neutral on a 3 wire setup.
weedmeister
13 years ago
The green is the ground for the machine. Tie the whites and the green together (3 wires).
seano815
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks alot everyone!!