How to Install a Dryer Electrical Cord
Materials and Tools You’ll Need:
- Screwdriver or nut driver
- UL-listed, four-prong dryer cord (must match amp rating for dryer and outlet; most are 30-amp)
- Strain-relief fitting (must be an appropriate size and shape for the cord)
Safety Precautions:
- Before you begin, turn off the power to the dryer at the circuit breaker or fuse box.
- Unplug the dryer from the outlet.
- Allow the dryer to cool down completely before working on it.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Expose the Wire Connection Block
- Locate the electrical cover plate on the back of the dryer. It will be near a hole about 3/4-inch in diameter in the dryer’s back panel.
- Using a screwdriver or nut driver, remove the screws on the cover plate.
- Remove the plate from the dryer to expose the wiring terminal block for the cord connections. Set the plate and screws aside.
2. Install the Cord
- Insert the dryer cord into the hole near the terminal block.
- Secure the green cord wire under the ground screw on the dryer body. Tighten the ground screw firmly with the screwdriver or nut driver.
Tip:
There should be no wire or metal tab connecting the ground screw to the center (neutral) terminal on the terminal block. If there is, the dryer is set up for a three-prong cord. You must remove this connection, following the dryer manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Connect the Cord Wires
- Connect the remaining three cord wires to the terminals on the terminal block. Start by connecting the white cord wire to the center (neutral) terminal on the block.
- Then, connect the black cord wire to the terminal at the left or right of the center terminal; the left and right terminals are the hot terminals and are interchangeable.
- Finally, connect the red cord wire to the remaining hot terminal.
- Tighten all terminal connections firmly, using the screwdriver or nut driver.
4. Secure the Cord
- Install a new strain-relief fitting to secure the cord where it enters the dryer panel. These fittings typically have a top and bottom half.
- Remove the screws from the fitting and separate the two halves.
- Insert the tab of each half into the dryer cord hole, so it is flat against the inside of the dryer panel.
- Fit the two halves over the cord and reinstall the fitting’s screws.
- Tighten the screws so the cord is held firmly, but make sure the fitting does not deform the cord or pinch the insulation.
5. Reattach the Cover Plate
- Set the cover plate into place over the terminal block, and secure it with its mounting screws.
- Make sure all dryer controls are off and plug in the dryer to the four-slot outlet.
- Turn on the dryer and test it for proper function.
Tip:
Make sure to connect the dryer’s vent duct before using the dryer to dry clothes.
Variation for Three-Prong Cords
If you have an older three-slot dryer outlet, you can install a three-prong cord to fit that outlet. The installation process is similar to four-prong cords, with one exception:
In the dryer’s wire connection box, there must be a metal jumper between the center neutral terminal and the ground terminal. If you are installing a three-prong cord, the center wire (the ground/neutral wire) is connected to this center ground/neutral connection, and the other two wires are connected to outer terminals (both hot) on the dryer.
