I have a dryer question.

[hickman1937]

My sister gave me a washer and dryer yesterday. The outlet has three narrow vertical holes, the dryer has two matching prongs, but the third prong is curved. Can I buy a converter? Home Depot had me on hold for too long, and Maytag dealers are closed today, maybe tomorrow too. I'll go over to Home Depot if I have to, but is it a wild goose chase?

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Yes, you can buy a converter

Seems like we had to get one for mine...but it's been a while.

[hickman1937]

2. Thank You.

I think I'll get dressed and go find out.

[Blue Diadem]

3. If you can't get a converter

you can always check out a new pigtail, that's the cord with a plug attached.

[Not_Giving_Up]

4. Now that you mention it...

I think that's what we got. I'm not mechanically inclined, unless it's a computer...thank goodness my husband is! (At least he's good for something!!)

[arkie dem]

5. Most clothes dryers use a

30 Amp pigtail. The outlet(receptacle) you describe sounds like a 50 Amp. You have two choices you can buy a 50 amp pigtail or a 30 amp receptacle.

[lpbk2713]

6. A word of advice......

If you can't find a converter and if you have never done any electrical work before..... leave any wiring or hardware changes to someone who has. You're dealing 220 Volts and heavy duty amperage. This can definitely be a killer or start a fire if it isn't done right.

[arkie dem]

7. Good Advice

Also when working with electricity make sure the power is OFF to whatever you're working on and all connections are TIGHT. Loose connections are cause of many electrical fires.

[Thor_MN]

8. I'd reccomend buying a plug and cord to match your outlet.

The prong configuration is a way of "labeling" the circuit as to it's amperage. Since you aren't going to be changing the wiring to the receptacle, so "relabeling" by changing the receptacle isn't good practice. No harm in calling a 50 amp circuit a 30 amp, but you relabel a 30 as a 50 and the next home owner decided to plug in a welder...

There is also much less chance of coming in contact with live wires by changing the plug, unless you do something really stupid like plugging in the new cord and THEN wiring to the dryer.

[hickman1937]

9. Thank you Everyone. I went to

Home Depot to the service desk, and the woman there said they didn't sell converters because there was too much power involved, or something like that. She said to replace the pigtail, its easy, just 3 or 4 screws. I went and looked, but they didn't have the kind I needed. I had to get back home(sick kid)and a few minutes later my daughter's boyfriend walked in. He had just bought a converter at a different Home Depot. It was the wrong one, but what is going on? What was that song and dance I got about "too much power for a converter"? Now I'm hesitant to use one.

[KG]

10. you have to change the electrical cord on the dryer.

home depot will have what you need.

[jmowreader]

11. This is one of the most-asked questions at my store

There are two kinds of plugs for dryers: three-wire and four-wire. You have a three-wire plug on the dryer and a four-wire socket on the wall.

You need a four-wire cord, which Home Depot stores keep in two places--Appliances and Electrical. The ones in Appliances are all GE; the ones in Electrical are Commercial Electric--our own brand. If the associate doesn't know where the dryer cords are, just ask him/her where the outdoor extension cords are; that's where you'll find them.

When you get this cord home, start by turning the dryer around. You should find a plate on the back of the dryer with the cord coming out of it. Take that plate off. Inside you will see that the cord that's hooked to the dryer now has two thick wires and one thin one in it.

Hook the new one up as follows:

One thick wire from the old cord -> red wire from the new one
The other thick wire from the old cord -> black wire from the new one
The thin wire from the old cord -> white wire from the new one

The fourth wire is green, and Green is for Ground. Just find a screw somewhere close to the other three wires and use it to attach the green wire to the dryer cabinet.