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I am trying to convert an older dryer from a 3 prong plug to a 4 prong plug. I have read the online articles but I am still confused. My dryer has the outer red and black terminals, but the middle termimal has a white and YELLOW wire connected to the same lug which is connected to the middle terminal. There is no external ground connection. I don't know what to do with the yellow wire (ground ?) or the grounding wire from the new 4 prong plug. I've attached a photo. Thanks chestarse attached the following image(s):
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I am assuming your picture is how the unit is connected now with the 3 wire line cord. The red and the black are OK. You may have to dig further into the unit to find the ground strap. This is a wire or flat copper connection that connects the yellow (center terminal) to the frame of the unit. Perhaps I just cannot see it in the picture or this terminal is shorted to the frame by the terminal strip itself. This ground strap has to be removed when using a 4 wire line cord. Then line cord Neutral then goes to the center terminal and line cord ground gets attached to the machines frame. Perhaps this will help: http://www.applianceaid.com/electric.html |
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Thank you for your quick reply. Yes, the picture shows the current connection. I'll try and take the back of the dryer off and find the ground strap.
Pls explain your comment " (perhaps) this terminal is shorted to the frame by the terminal strip itself".
Is it an option just to cut the yellow wire ?
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It could be that the center terminal is connected to one or both of the terminal mounting screws, then these ground the center.
Remove the terminal strip and inspect it to see if there is a jumper built into the strip.
The above is doubtful but I am suspicious because normally the ground strap is connected to the terminal strip. |
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Thanks, I'll check this out.
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One more question. Assuming I find the jumper/ground strap, do I leave the yellow wire connected to the middle terminal ?
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Yes, if they run a wire from the yellow to the machine, you remove that. Then the yellow will be the machines Neutral only and gets connected to the new power cord Neutral. Then you connect the new line cord's ground to the frame. This is very important as it prevents the machine's frame/case from going live. |
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Forgive my ignorance, but there are two wires that are now connected to the middle terminal. Assuming I find and disconnect the jumper, I will leave both the yellow and the white wires attached to the middle terminal ?
The dryer is at another house and I can't work on it as I am talking to your. Thank you for your patience.
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Sorry did not notice the white wire.
Then either the white or the yellow is the ground strap and must be removed. |
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Once I find which one is the ground wire (white or yellow - I'm betting it is the yellow one), do I then ground this wire onto the frame along with the green wire from the new cord ? Thanks again for your patience.
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