I took off the dryer receptical to wire a 250V. 20A electrical receptecal. There are a black white and red. Do I assume the red is green because it's the only wire that doesn't match the directions. Red seems hot though no.

Red and Black are HOT, White is neutral, and you may have metal conduit.
You will have to open the panel cover, If changing to 120 volts, Remove 240 volt breaker, put black on single pole breaker, cap the red. Use black and white for receptacle, The conduit will work for your ground. You could identify both ends of the red with green tape, and have for your ground.

Verify wire and breaker connections in panel, needs to be 20 amp breaker.

Red and Black are HOT, White is neutral, and you may have metal conduit.
You will have to open the panel cover, If changing to 120 volts, Remove 240 volt breaker, put black on single pole breaker, cap the red. Use black and white for recepticle, The conduit will work for your ground. You could identify both ends of the red with green tape, and have for your ground.

Verify wire and breaker connections in panel, needs to be 20 amp breaker.


I want to keep it at 240V. I bought the receptacle for it. But its nuetral screw is green. So I hook the white to the nuetral and the red and black to the other two same colored (golden) screws on the receptacle.

The two yellow screws are for Red and Black wire -- the white goes to(silver screw) the green -- right

Im not hooking up a new dryer. A ballast to the dryer outlet because it's the only outlet in my home with 240V.
The wires that come out of the wall and socket are red black and white. My receptacle has two yellow screws and a green screw which goes where? Red and black go to the yellow screws on receptacle, while the white goes to green?

If you install this receptacle you MUST replace the 30 amp breaker with a 20 amp breaker.

I just hooked up the red and black wire. I didn't even plug in the white and it fired right up. I didn't change any amps or anything just the receptacle and it still worked. Is that OK?

Is that ok?NO!!
I see that you are intent to make this happen no matter WHAT.
This can be a VERY dangerous mindset. PLEASE heed the advice here and DO THIS RIGHT.

You MUST hook up the ground to that green screw. At the very least use the white, although this is bad practice, it will work. YOU DO NEED something on that green screw.

You MUST change the breaker to a 20.
Yes, it will certainly work the way you have it right now. But... Just because it works DOES NOT mean it is right or that it is safe!!

The box is probably grounded, But identifying white with green tape at both ends, and place on ground bar instead of neutral bar will provide ground.

The box is probably grounded,....
I'd have to say this is a dangerous assumption. A good many homes, even older ones, have non-metallic boxes.

I'd have to say this is a dangerous assumption. A good many homes, even older ones, have non-metallic boxes.
Appreciate your concern again, If it was done by a licensed electrician, or part idiot, and it has red, black and white, and no green , It should have metal conduit unless they were COMPLETE idiot.
I don't know or a red , white, and black cable that has no ground, I agree I am assuming that since it is red, white, and black, and no ground that is MUST be in conduit.
I do agree it might have been done in PVC conduit and not have a ground.
Personally I bet it is metal conduit.
I also bet it is not cable with the ground cut off.

Personally I bet it is metal conduit.
I also bet it is not cable with the ground cut off.I'll take both those bets.

I have seen MANY dryer receptacles where either a "no ground" NM cable was used, or they cut the ground off flush since it was not used. I'd venture to say most every one was this was from the 40's through the early 70's.
Also, since the OP is in CA, I seriously doubt this circuit is in conduit.

Remember, he said it was a DRYER receptacle. For MANY years dryer receptacles did not need a grounding conductor present.

The "Red, white, and black" no ground makes me think it is not a cable, A lot of the old stuff I woud see 2 hots and a ground. It was the neutral that was lacking.
I will say different areas use different Methods. We can't Bury service wire(must be in conduit),no aluminum, #12 minimum, 20 amp breaker is Usually smallest breaker we use.

A lot of the old stuff I woud see 2 hots and a ground. It was the neutral that was lacking. Have to say I agree with this!



I have seen MANY dryer receptacles where either a "no ground" NM cable was used This is also true.

Both of you are correct.


I just hooked up the red and black wire. I didn't even plug in the white and it fired right up. I didn't change any amps or anything just the receptacle and it still worked. Is that OK? Why did you write us, if you wasn't planning to heed our instructions. I would answer the questions our team asked on this site, then go from there. I'm concerned you may have violated code!

The Poster may not realize that if it is not grounded, if an internal short occurs, it will become live, and not trip breaker, waiting for someone?(a Kid?) to touch it, they are usually barefooted(down here anyway).