Changing Dryer Cord

Changing a Dryer cord from a 3 prong to a 4 prong....Most machine will come with a 3 prong cord. I can look at the cord (98% of the time) I can tell 3 or 4 prong by the color of the cord. Grey cords are usually a 3 prong and 4 prong are usually Black and round. 

1. I recommend you click off the breaker to the dryer. I personally do not, because I know how to Not touch the prongs that go into the outlet. Disconnect (pull) the cord out from the outlet.
2. Some will need to disconnect dryer vent from Wall. .....I personally do not.  Me being experience, I can usually lean Dryer forward -gently . ........." T i p " only bad thing is -I have big hands, on occasion can loose the terminal screws inside the machine, sometime, short cuts are sometimes not a short cuts. You might want to pull  dryer out.
3. Pull Dryer out from wall, since it is now disconnected
4. Locate where the cord is coming out from, above the cord is usually a cover for the terminal block,  this is where the cord connects    
5. Remove cover some will have 1 - 2 screw if on top part of the unit - Some peoples units can be locate at the bottom half of a dryer and usually more screw to remove. Either way remove the screw. Covers will different with Brand and Models
   
 

Dryer Backside- Wiring (above)

Wire removed

Depends on the screw type and dryer cord wire ends, if you can short cut
With a Nut driver 3/8  losing up the screws  to remove wire -some cords wire ends are u shape where you can slide out screws when the screws are loose. Mainly you will not need to remove the screw all the way out. tips on tools to use to remove the terminal screw- some people can use a common phillips or screwdriver. I personally like the nut driver to hold the screw inside the nut driver, less likely to fall inside machine. I do not like taking the larger backside panel off to retrieve the lost screw. I will, but prefer not.

CAUTION
Remember I said, I can or will  drop screws inside the dryer, this is the part, If you
protect the screws from going inside or use a tool that is magnetic. Will Help Prevent them to fall inside the dryer

You will remove the 3 grey wires from terminal block and disconnect the green (picture is white wire on left) (by my index finger knuckle)

Next is to loosen both screws and remove 1,or both screws on the clamp

 Here in the picture the clamp off being take off.

7. Pull the cord out

8. Replace with New Cord

9. Put the black wire on the END of the terminal block, Does not matter which end you screw it to. 

A must with the neutral - white wire connect back to the middle- center of the terminal, connect wire removed from chassis screw and put on center terminal with white wire from new 4 prong cord.

Red wire goes back on one of the other end of terminal block.

Green wire coming from your new dryer 4 prong cord, connect it where you disconnected the green wire that stays in machine, chassis ground.  I will tuck the old green up in the machine,taped off or put it on center terminal since thats where it comes from with new cords white wire. You have the green wire now coming from your cord, that is your ground wire. If you do not connect you can get shocked touching the machine.

Some dryer motors will not run with the ground not connected. Connect the green to the machine. in the picture above it was the white wire by my hand. " remember" 

One of my other picture ( above ) shows the green wire being green. either picture is correct.

And now you go back to the steps to put clamp on cord - outside -back of the Dryer 

4 prong cord

 

Place the cover back on.  Now the fun part getting the vent back on dryer to place back how you found, if already in place. If not and just moving the dryer in, I ALWAYS place dryer in first and then install washer machine.  Go read my dryer tips and maintenance on how important it is to have your dryer vent placed correctly.

4 Prong outlet on your wall for power

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