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    orange3369's Avatar
    orange3369 Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 9, 2012, 08:18 AM
    Replacing a 4prong dryer cord with a 3 prong
    I am wanting to replace a 4 prong dryer cord with a 3 prong. How do I do this and hook up a ground? Mother in law is worrying the mess out of me and I'm no electrician!! Lol Thanks
    drtom4444's Avatar
    drtom4444 Posts: 3,282, Reputation: 145
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    #2

    Dec 10, 2012, 01:02 AM
    All you do is jump between the Neutral (silver) screw and the Green ground lug with the strip of brass supplied, or a wire. You then attach the center terminal to either the ground or neutral terminal and the two hot wires on the brass terminals. If you do it wrong it will blow a breaker. This is very easy to do, but make sure to tighten up all screws in the breaker box and on the dryer, in fact, you need to use the largest electrician's screwdriver (round with insulated shaft) you can get to fit screws without breaking anything and tighten all the screws in the breaker box and on receptacle before you turn on the power. The problem is that the screws in a breaker box loosen over time from heating and cooling 1000s of times. If you notice any burned wires call an electrician. Loose wires cause house fires and are the number one cause of fires. You really should go around to all outlets and switches and tighten the screws there, too. When you are using appliances that draw a lot of current you can burn down your house if you have loose screws in receptacles and in the breaker box.
    orange3369's Avatar
    orange3369 Posts: 10, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Dec 10, 2012, 08:21 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by drtom4444 View Post
    All you do is jump between the Neutral (silver) screw and the Green ground lug with the strip of brass supplied, or a wire. You then attach the center terminal to either the ground or neutral terminal and the two hot wires on the brass terminals. If you do it wrong it will blow a breaker. This is very easy to do, but make sure to tighten up all screws in the breaker box and on the dryer, in fact, you need to use the largest electrician's screwdriver (round with insulated shaft) you can get to fit screws without breaking anything and tighten all the screws in the breaker box and on receptacle before you turn on the power. The problem is that the screws in a breaker box loosen over time from heating and cooling 1000s of times. If you notice any burned wires call an electrician. Loose wires cause house fires and are the number one cause of fires. You really should go around to all outlets and switches and tighten the screws there, too. When you are using appliances that draw a lot of current you can burn down your house if you have loose screws in receptacles and in the breaker box.
    Thanks dr. it is an old house and it still has a fuse box instead of breakers! I don't want to burn down mother in laws house;) should I let an electrician do this to be safe? Barry

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