# So how do I plug in my dryer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928 "2003-06-05T20:48:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![evilhyphen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@evilhyphen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhyphen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/1 "2003-06-05T20:48:58Z")
Having moved last week, I am now attempting to unpack,arrange furniture, and in general set up the house. When I attempted to set up the washer and dryer I ran into a problem. The cord on my dryer plugs into an outlet like [this](http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=71247-000000334-38B-SP) However, the outlet in the laundry room looks like [this.](http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=71243-000000334-1225) So do I need a new outlet? Power cord? Dryer( I hope not, this one’s only 1.5 years old)? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/2 "2003-06-05T21:03:18Z")
You should be able to find an adapter that will let you plug your 3-prong dryer plug in one end and plug the other end into your 4-prong outlet. If that doesn’t work, you can get one of [these](http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=71268-16503-RD100404) and wire it into your dryer. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/3 "2003-06-05T21:04:12Z")
I think you need a new outlet, and it should be installed by an electrician. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/4 "2003-06-05T21:06:42Z")
What **Fat Bald Guy** said would work too! (simulposts) :o ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/5 "2003-06-05T21:07:57Z")
I’m guessing that you need an adaptor. Print out the pix you linked, take them down to Lowe’s, ask them. If they give you blank looks, get yourself down to your nearest TrueValue or Ace Hardware–their market niche is “service”, and they hire people who will have time to help you figure out what kind of adaptor you need, if they don’t know already. You can also try Menard’s, who are Lowe’s competitors and whose market niche is also “service”, and who usually have people who know what stuff is and what it does. And if THEY all give you blank looks, take your pix down to the nearest electrical supply storefront, ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/6 "2003-06-05T21:17:35Z")
Before you get an adapter, make _absolutely_ sure that the voltage of the outlet matches the voltage of the dryer. Many driers use 220 VAC, but a few use 110 VAC. ---
**Author:** ![Bravic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Bravic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bravic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/7 "2003-06-05T21:20:09Z")
Same thing happened to me…couldn’t find an adapter though, so I got a new cord ($12 I think). Just attach it to the back where the old cord is and match the colors…black on black, white on white (usually in the middle), red on red. As for the green (which, being color blind, I took for gray), I found another green (gray) wire attached to a screw near the cord plate that ran into the inside of the dryer (I think it attached to the white wire on the inside)…stuck it there…no fire, runs great. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/8 "2003-06-05T21:31:31Z")
Ideally, you’ll have a new cord installed on the dryer. The old 3-blade “crow’s foot” plugs ground the dryer through the “neutral” conductor, rather than through a proper ground. Normally, the neutral wire is grounded, but this can’t be guaranteed. This used to be standard practice, but is no longer recommended. To change the cord, you have to be sure to disconnect the “frame jumper” from the neutral terminal. If your dryer is newish, there should be some fairly prominent instructions near the terminals. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/9 "2003-06-05T21:50:13Z")
gotpasswords is correct. The national electric code changed and dryers now have to use the 4-plug outlets. Changing the cord is pretty easy – should just take a screw driver and maybe a nut driver. On the bright side, the fact that your new house has the right kind of outlet shows that the electricians knew what they were doing. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-plug-in-my-dryer/179928/10 "2003-06-05T22:01:01Z")
What kind of dryer is it? Make & Model (Should be on the front or back)