Ask Me Help Desk - Clothes Dryers wired wrong?

Clothes Dryers wired wrong?

I recently installed two clothes dryers. They are running and getting warm, but not hot.

Each is a 220 dryer. I have a 230 amp breaker for each one ( One breaker each,
w/2 30 amp switches connected by one handle. I have the red and black wires
Connected to the breakers, and the white wire to the ground bar. The outlets
Are 3 prong. The white is connected to the brass screw and the black and red
Are connected to the silver screws. The power cord that came w/the dryers was completely covered, and I hooked the 3 leads up to the dryer without crossing the
Wires.

Is it possible to wire it wrong and still have some heat? I did two brand new dryers
At the same time. They are both doing the same thing.

Okay,

Let's get out a multimeter and set it for 240 VAC. Pull the dryer out from the wall so thqat you can access the cable connections on the dryer.

Put the black lead on the black wire terminal and the red lead on the red wires terminal.

You should see 220 or 240 VAC between these two terminals. If you don't see the 22X volts, then move the red lead from the meter to the white terminal. You should now see 110 VAC. Then move the black lead from the meter over to the red terminal on the dryer, you should again see 110 VAC. If all these voltages are correct, the wiring is correct.

Did you run XX-3 with ground?

Labman,

His house is a three wire which means he would use 10/2 (for 30 amp) Black and White would carry power, bare ground would serve as Neutral.

He would not use 10/3.

The White should go to neutral bar, the green or bare goes to ground bar.
Usually on Dryers, the 2 outer screws(of the 3) are the 2 hots. You ashould read 240 volts between these 2. then 120 between the center terminal and the 2 outer terminals.
Didn't see a ground mentioned.
Dryer cord is covered with what.
You are right. The three wires on three wire cord are wire directly. No Crossing.
Maybe turn breaker off and the bac on, Maybe half of breaker triped, but didn't throw handle.

Time out,

How can the White go to Neutral if you are only using 10/2. If the unit is using a 4 prong plug, then you would be using 10/3 for 30 Amp. That would give you Black/Red for hots, White for Neutral and Green or bare for ground.

He has a 3 prong which means Black/White with ground for a cable. That's a textbook example of a three wire service drop. Two hot legs and one Neutral.

Why is it so difficult to just take a voltage reading at the line in side of the dryer and verify the voltage conditions?

Don, sjuneau states:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjuneau

I have the red and black wires
connected to the breakers, and the white wire to the ground bar. The outlets
are 3 prong. The white is connected to the brass screw and the black and red
are connected to the silver screws.

You state:

Quote:

Originally Posted by donf

How can the White go to Neutral if you are only using 10/2.

Where do you see 3 wire or 10-2 in the question?

Standard voltage in the USA is 120/240 volts.

Everyone, please stop using "110 or 220" volts. It does not EXIST!

I do see some good questions and comments about testing from Don, and connections by Strat, and what type of cable from Labman.

I see no response by sjuneau. A response to where is the ground, what is the voltage at the outlet, what type of cable, would help stop the guessing.

Seems to me the outlet being wired as stated:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjuneau

The white is connected to the brass screw and the black and red are connected to the silver screws.

Is where the problem is.

We need a picture of the outlet to see how is is connected.

People that ask questions do have the responsibility of helping us help them by providing us with the details we need, and pictures of what they are working on.