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-   -   Convert Four Wire to Three wire for stove (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=180720)

  • Feb 5, 2008, 03:55 PM
    lrearnest2
    Convert Four Wire to Three wire for stove
    Hi.
    I had a four wire circuit from a dryer that I needed to convert to a NEMA 10-50R for my new Whirlpool electric range. I wired the new receptacle with two hots a and GROUND and capped off the neutral. I tested from the hots to the ground and I get 120V. From hot to hot I get 240 Volts.
    The Whirlpool installation manual says to use the two hots and the neutral to connect the three prong pigtail to the range... (and I don't have a neutral... I have a ground).

    Did I wire this correctly? Will it blow up the range? Should I rewire this circuit with two hots and a neutral instead?

    Thanks
  • Feb 5, 2008, 04:05 PM
    tkrussell
    Use the neutral. Why only three wire cord if you have a 4 wire cable? And isn't the dryer set up for 4 wire?
  • Feb 5, 2008, 07:49 PM
    Washington1
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tkrussell
    Use the neutral. Why only three wire cord if you have a 4 wire cable? And isn't the dryer set up for 4 wire?

    Exactly!

    Many people would love to have your 4-wire (hot, hot, Neut, Grd), instead of there 3-wire (Hot, hot, neut). Use it as intended, and as required per code.
  • Feb 6, 2008, 07:38 AM
    hkstroud
    Sounds like a comunication problem here. Its not a 3 or 4 wire cable. It's a 3 or 4 conductor cable. The ground, not being a conductor, is not counted. A 3 conductor cable has 4 wires, two hots, one nuetral and a ground. What's the size of the cable and the breaker. Usually dryers are wire for 30 amps. Stoves usually require 40 or 50 amps.
  • Feb 6, 2008, 09:36 AM
    lrearnest2
    Hi Folks.

    The dryer has a four wire. The stove requires a three wire (based on the cord it came with.) It DOES have four lugs, but I do not have a four lug cord, so I wanted to change it to a three wire cord.
    I used the GROUND and two hots and it is working fine. As stated, I can re-wire it to two hots and a NEUTRAL if needed... I just have to re-wire the splice in the junction box. The circuit breaker is a 50A and I have three conductor, 8 gauge wire (solid) going to the new receptacle. If I would have ran four wires to the new receptacle, I wouldn't have a location to land all four wires, as the receptacle only has three landings.

    Make sense? Is it considered "dangerous" to use the two hots and the ground?

    Thanks
    LRE
  • Feb 6, 2008, 03:17 PM
    tkrussell
    You have a 4 wire feeder, and a 4 wire appliance, you are not allowed to convert the appliance over to a 3 wire cord, you need to install a 4 wire cord.
  • Feb 6, 2008, 03:21 PM
    Washington1
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hkstroud
    Sounds like a comunication problem here. Its not a 3 or 4 wire cable. Its a 3 or 4 conductor cable. The ground, not being a conductor, is not counted. A 3 conductor cable has 4 wires, two hots, one nuetral and a ground. Whats the size of the cable and the breaker. Usually dryers are wire for 30 amps. Stoves usually require 40 or 50 amps.

    What?
    :confused: :confused: :(

    To end this, just listen to what TK said, he's on the money!
  • Feb 6, 2008, 03:28 PM
    lrearnest2
    Thanks for the feedback. I should ask the knuckleheads that sold me the new range to give me a four wire cord then. They gave me the three wire, hence the need to go from four wire to three wire.

    I'll get on it. And re-pull with 4 wire (hot,hot,neutral,ground) and replace the receptacle on the range end with a 4 wire.

    Cheers
    LRE
  • Feb 6, 2008, 03:54 PM
    tkrussell
    You took this well, good luck!
  • Sep 10, 2017, 08:33 PM
    Handyish
    Have a similar issue... new oven arrived with 10/3 wiring (red, black, white, ground) but my old house has a three prong plug. Before the delivery guys left, they combined the neutral and the ground... is this right? Do I jumper the neutral to the oven chassis? Just use two hits and a ground? Two hits and the neutral?
  • Sep 10, 2017, 09:23 PM
    donf
    You can use it as a two conductor (Black, Red and ground). The delivery folks converted the device for you. You need to purchase the correct amperage three wire cable and plug for your unit and install it on the device.

    Please open a new thread for your question.
  • Sep 10, 2017, 10:10 PM
    Handyish
    Thanks donf-Wall oven came pre-wired and I bought a 3 prong plug. I attached the two hots on the sides and the neutral/ground combo on the top of the plug... plugged the oven in and no lghts came on. An old vent pipe (previous gas oven) fell into oven wall cavity and oven started working. When I touched vent stack, I got an awful shock. So confused.
  • Sep 11, 2017, 02:24 AM
    donf
    Well that's seriously not good!

    Kill the circuit breaker or remove the fuses, whichever you have for the oven's circuit,

    Remove the oven and inspect the cable connection area on the oven. Make sure that there are no exposed connections on the oven. Then make sure that there are no exposed prongs on the plug and receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The plugs on the new cord may be longer than the receptacle's connection points, (I have never seen that one). With respect to the receptacle and plug, again make sure that when reinsert the plug the prongs are completely inside the receptacle. There should be no exposed copper prongs.

    With your meter set to Ohm's, check for continuity between the hot conductors and the gas vent pipe. Also check for why the vent dropped down onto the electrical components. What side did it connect with, the receptacle or back of the oven.

    It must have touched one of the hot conductors. It's possible that the delivery folks accidentally wired a hot to the Neutral/Ground connector.

    I would also push the vent out of the way and secure it to the wall with either a screw or clamp it so it will not drop down again.

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