How do I change a 3 prong dryer outlet to a 4 prong dryer outlet?

Absolutely have to? NO. However the reason for adding a designated ground wire is safety, just like it is in standard outlets, In the case of an electrical leak to the skin of the dryer, the ground will carry the current through the ground wire instead of the human who accidentally touches the "hot" dryer shell and grounded plumbing. Changing the 3 wire outlet to a 4 wire, & also running a separate bare ground wire to that outlet from the ground rod near the electric meter is a simple repair, if you know what you are doing. From your question, I would suggest hiring an electrician, who will wire the outlet according to code, Yes, it costs. Consider the following.

When I was a kid, no outlets were grounded. Our refrigerator had a minor electrical leak, as most do. Whenever someone touched both the fridge and the water tap, they got shocked. A designated ground wire connected to the refrigerator would have solved that problem. We were all lucky. With a worse electrical leak, one of us could have been killed.

The previous answer will work, but will be less safe.

4 Prong Dryer Outlet

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RE:

How do I change a 3 prong dryer outlet to a 4 prong dryer outlet?

3 prong outlet to a 4 prong outlet-dryer has a 4 prong...i cut the power but i do not see a ground wire as the new outlet asks. Do I need it?

4 Prong Outlet

THE FOUR WIRES IN A 4 WIRE OUTLET ARE: BLACK=HOT RED=HOT note the BLACK AND RED= 220 VOLTS TOGETHER.

WHITE WIRE IS NEUTRAL.. THIS WIRE DOES CARRY (KILLING) CURRENT.

**NEVER CONNECT THE GREEN WIRE TO THE WHITE WIRE AT THE OUTLET: NEVER DO THIS. THERE IS NO SHORT CUT FOR INSTALLING THE GREEN (GROUND) WIRE BACK TO THE MAIN SWITCH.

THE GREEN WIRE IS FOR GROUNDING ONLY. IT IS A GROUNDING WIRE AND IS

CONNECTED TO ALL METAL THAT DOES NOT CARRY CURRENT UNDER NORMAL CONDINTIONS: INDEED THIS WIRE IS SUPPOSE TO HELP OPEN (BLOW THE FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAK) WHEN ANY VOLTAGE TOUCHES THE METAL FRAME OF THE APPLIANCE (FRAME OR OTHER PARTS )

I HOPE THIS HELPS.

YOU WILL NEED TO INSTALL THE GREEN ,

FOURTH WIRE BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE FROM A 3 WIRE TO A 4 WIRE OUTLET.

THIS GROUND WIRE IS REQUIRED TO RETURN (MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY) TOTHE THE "MAIN" SWITCH GROUND BAR.

note: the neutral wire has a few functions: it devides the 220voltage into 120+120 volts, it also carries some of the current to "balance" the circuit ( a little technical ).

THE SIZE OF THE GREEN GROUND WIRE DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE BLACK AND RED WIRES: DRYER+ #10 awg.

FREE STANDING RANGE #6 awg

COUNTER TOP RANGE: one size smaller then the black and red wires

I am a retired electrician and I just happened to read this question: so I offer this answer

msilv9009@yahoo.com in Lakeland Fla USA

Go to a apliance store, and get a 4 prong adapter. The 3 prong can plug into a 4 prong, and it will work that way. We had to do that in our new house.

It is important to have the ground wire in the receptacle. You can however replace the four prong cord with a three prong cord if you connect the ground strap fastened to the cabinet onto the center bolt of the terminal block. Three wire connections are grandfathered to allow old equipment to be connected without the necessity of rewiring. If a new hookup is to be wired in you would need to run a three wire w/ground line and use the four prong cord and four prong receptacle.

when i had that problem i just went to a resale shop and bought a 3 prong ( thats what i was needing ) cord off of an old dryer that diddnt work and rewired it to the back of my dyer instead of changing the whole outlet......

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If you're asking this question and want to live a long life then don't try to do it yourself. What you don't know about electricity could easily kill you and/or burn down your house - in which case your insurance won't pay up - which would make an electrician's service call look like a real bargain. If you do insist on trying to do this yourself, at least make sure your will is up-to-date. Seriously.

Call a good electrician