What is wrong with my dryer???

Question

Ok I replaced my four prong plug on my dryer to a 3 prong plug. I followed the crappy directions exactly. Now it makes a loud grinding noise and the drum spins the wrong direction. Not sure what the heck is going on. Any advice?

Answer 1

Caution: Please read our safety information before attempting any testing, maintenance or repairs. Unplug the dryer before beginning any repair.

How To Replace a 3 Wire Power Cord with a 4 Wire Power Cord:

Rewire 3 prong plug with a 4 prong plug

You may be moving to another apartment or into a new home and bringing along a large 240-volt electrical appliance, such as a clothes dryer. When you get to your new abode and go to plug in the dryer you may find that you can’t—your dryer’s plug does not match the new dryer receptacle. No, you’re not in a new country but you have encountered a new safety measure designed to make your dryer a bit safer.

The new power line has 4 wires and a plug with 4 prongs —the additional wire is used to ground the appliance and to prevent dangerous and potentially deadly electrical shocks. To get your dryer up and running, you’ll have to buy a new 4 wire power cord and attach it. Never downgrade the outlet to a 3 prong outlet, that is not safe and not up to NEC code.

Caution: Please read our safety information before attempting any testing, maintenance or repairs. Unplug the dryer before beginning any repair.

How To Replace a 3 Wire Power Cord with a 4 Wire Power Cord:

Rewire 3 prong plug with a 4 prong plug

You may be moving to another apartment or into a new home and bringing along a large 240-volt electrical appliance, such as a clothes dryer. When you get to your new abode and go to plug in the dryer you may find that you can’t—your dryer’s plug does not match the new dryer receptacle. No, you’re not in a new country but you have encountered a new safety measure designed to make your dryer a bit safer.

The new power line has 4 wires and a plug with 4 prongs —the additional wire is used to ground the appliance and to prevent dangerous and potentially deadly electrical shocks. To get your dryer up and running, you’ll have to buy a new 4 wire power cord and attach it. Never downgrade the outlet to a 3 prong outlet, that is not safe and not up to NEC code.

In order to perform this job you’ll need a screwdriver. A small drill and a metal s***w and washer may also be required.

The power cord will be attached to the terminal block, usually located in the back of the dryer. First remove the metal access plate exposing the terminal block. The power cord will have a middle neutral/ground wire and two outer hot wires. Detach all wires and remove the old cord

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You’ll also want to detach the metal ground strap located in the center of the terminal block, where the neutral/ground wire was connected. This metal strap has been used to ground the dryer by connecting the neutral wire to the body of the dryer. A separate ground wire—the fourth wire, is replacing it. You should be able to simply remove this metal strap.

The new cord has a green ground wire; two hot wires, which are black and red; and a white neutral wire. Attach the neutral to the middle connector and the two hot wires to either end of the terminal.

In order to safely ground the machine the green ground wire must be securely connected to the dryer frame. There may be a s***w on the frame where you can attach the ground but most likely you’ll have to drill a hole into the frame and attach the wire using a sheet metal s***w and washer.

To make sure the ground wire is properly installed you can check it using a multimeter set to test resistance. Touch one end of the multimeter to the metal body of the dryer and the other to the ground prong of the plug. The meter should register a positive resistance reading. If it doesn’t, double check to make sure you’ve made a good connection between the dryer frame and the ground wire.

Replace the metal access plate carefully; the new ground wire will protrude from the side of the plate as it is attached to the outside of the dryer frame. The plate should fit snugly without cutting into the new ground wire.

Answer 2

Here are a couple of pictures showing how to wire both a three wire and a four wire cord.

http://fixitnow.com/appliantology/dryerc...

The new code says you must wire new outlets with the four wire standard (adding the ground) but you are allowed to keep your present three wire outlet if it is already there.  These pictures make it easy to follow.

Answer 3

First why would you go from a 4 wire to a 3 wire is a mystery to me. But since you did, this may work for you.

What is happening is the motor has a capacitor start on it so it is starting out of phase.



Too correct this,  reverse your 2 hot leads to re-phase the motor.

Now for ground and neutral.  Make sure the ground and neutral are tied together in the outlet.

tcw