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    love2laugh623's Avatar
    love2laugh623 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 23, 2009, 08:33 AM
    What do I do with the white wire when converting a 4-prong dryer cord to a 3-prong?
    I moved into an older house and have a brand new Maytag Bravos dryer. I took the 4 prong cord off and there is a white wire that was installed under the middle prong of the 4 prong cord. The white wire is part of the dryer... it comes from a bunch of wires inside the dryer. I am now putting a 3 prong cord and all of the directions say you need a "grounding strap" which I don't have. I do however have an "extra" white wire. Where do I connect this? Where it was connected before in the middle post? To the green grounding screw?
    jcaron2's Avatar
    jcaron2 Posts: 986, Reputation: 204
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    #2

    Jun 23, 2009, 11:46 AM

    With a 4-prong outlet (as required by modern electrical code), there are separate connections for neutral (white) and ground (green). In older configurations with 3 prongs, the neutral and ground are tied together. So you'll simply hook the white wire and the green ground wire to the same terminal on the 3-prong plug.

    Ultimately the safer alternative is to replace the 3-prong outlet with a 4-prong, but that would likely involve not only replacing the outlet, but also replacing the wire in the wall (from the 8/2 wire that's probably there now with 8/3 wire).
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #3

    Jun 25, 2009, 04:04 AM

    I agree with above to change outlet to 4 prong, Receptacle is cheaper that the 3 wire cord, and easier to change out.
    If not going to 4 prong,
    The center needs a strap between the center white(s) and the case Ground screw. I would use #10 to be safe.

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