I just bought a gas dryer, leaving a funky 3 pronged outlet unused. The outlet was connected to the fuse box as a single circuit and I would like to let the new gas outlet take advantage of this. Is there any problem replacing the 'funky' electric dryer outlet to a regular three pronged outlet, so I can plug the dryer back into this circuit?

Look at this page (http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardware%20References/plugandreceptacleconfiguratio.htm) and see if you can find the receptacle that matches your funky outlet. If you notice from that page, the 20 amp, 110 volt receptacles have one prong turned sideways. If this is what you have (AND THE VOLTAGE ACTUALLY MEASURES 110 VOLTS), I would think you could replace it with a standard 110 volt receptacle. Note that the 110V, 20A receptacle on this page actually takes either a normal (15A) plug or the 20A plug with the sideways prong.

If your "funky" outlet matches any of the 220 volt receptacles, I would not try using this receptacle.

I offer my opinion as a starting point in your research. I'm not an electrician!

Best of Luck,
WallyH

Yes, it can be done. It involves doing two things: replacing the 240 volt 30 amp outlet (almost all electric clothes dryers are 240 volts on a 30 amp outlet - old ones have 3 prongs, new ones 4) with a 120 volt 15 or 20 amp outlet and also replacing the double pole circuit breaker in your panel with a single pole 20 amp breaker.

If you're not comfortable inside your circuit panel, you probably should call an electrician. If you discover that your dryer is aluminum cable (mine is), you very well may want to replace the cable. Aluminum cable definitely requires special attention, so let us know before doing anything with the aluminum.

If your dryer was wired with 3 conductor cable (3 conductors + bare ground), you simply cap off one of the hot wires on either end of the cable and connect the new outlet and breaker. If your old cable was 2 conductor (2 conductors + ground), you'll replace one of the hots that was on the double pole breaker to the neutral bar, add white tape to the end to signify it as a neutral (if you don't already have a white wire), and then mark the outlet end of the cable white as well. This is now your neutral for the 120 volt outlet.

I have a 50amp 125/250v electric dryer outlet, which is unused in my basement. I wanted to hook up a regular 110v desktop computer to it. Can I just plug in my step down 220v to 110v transformer into the electrical dryer outlet (after converting transformer plug to match the electric dryer receptacle) and safely plug my computer into the transformer?

If your going to change the dryer outlet to match the transformer, why not just convert it to a 120 volt receptacle?

If your going to change the dryer outlet to match the transformer, why not just convert it to a 120 volt receptacle?

No, I want to change the transformer plug to match the electric dryer outlet... I don't want to do anything to the dryer outlet since I'm renting and not allowed to change it... which is the reason I'd like to just use a transformer, if possible. Let me know. Thanks.

Is this the only receptacle you have available to you?
I'm curious because you seem to want to go to a lot of trouble for
A PC that can be plugged in almost anywhere...

Very good point,


I dont want to do anything to the dryer outlet since I'm renting and not allowed to change it... which is the reason I'd like to just use a transformer, if possible. Let me know. Thanks.

Sorry I misunderstood. How do you plan to change a converter plug to match the dryer receptacle?

Is this dryer outlet the only available outlet?

Very good point,



Sorry I misunderstood. How do you plan to change a converter plug to match the dryer receptacle?

Is this dryer outlet the only available outlet?


Well I was going to purchase one of those electric dryer 50a 125/250v male plugs and then cut off the regular plug off my transformer then wire the electric dryer plug to it so it plugs into the electric dryer receptacle... if this is possible...

I do have 2 more outlets in the basement, however, I have my washer and gas dryer connected to one and a deep freezer connected to the other. I used to have the dryer/washer/deep freezer connected to one outlet but it would trip the breaker on my power strip so I connected the deep freezer to a second outlet. I wanted a new power source for my computer repair workshop, which could have as many as 3-6 computers running at once (2 constantly) and I didn't want to take a chance connecting it to the other normal outlets shared w/ the washer/dryer or deep freezer. So in short, the electric dryer outlet is the only one available.