Replies

1. 
   DanH | Feb 22, 2014 08:00pm | #1

   The "standard 4-prong

   The "standard 4-prong receptacle" has only been "standard" for about 20 years, and should only be installed if the wiring is 4-conductor.  If the cable he used was already in place it's likely ony 3-conductor.  If he installed new cable he probably should have installed 4-conductor, though I'm not sure this is the code requirement for dryer receptacles or only range receptacles.

   In any event, unless you get the receptacle changed you should get a 3-prong "pigtail" installed on the dryer.  Don't attempt to install an adapter, and don't install a 4-prong receptacle on a 3-conductor cable.

1. 
   willim | Feb 22, 2014 08:20pm | #2

   Electric Dryer Receptacle.

   The wiring from the fuse box to the receptacle has three wires, one black, one white and a bare ground, but I can not find any plug that I can put on the dryer to go into the 6-50 receptacle..  I have a three prong wire with plug I can put on the dryer that will fit a three prong receptacle, but not the 6-50.  Could I just change the 6-50 receptacle to an old style three-prong receptacle?  And if that is possible, as I face the receptacle, which connection will take the white wire, which will take the black?

   The three wire cable is new - why would the electrician use a 6-50 receptacle, which seems to be very rarely used, instead of putting in a four wire cable and a four prong receptacle?  The fuse box is only six feet from the dryer receptacle.

1. 
   DanH | Feb 22, 2014 08:40pm | #3

   Dunno about code issues re swapping in a different 3-prong -- I'm not a code lawyer.

   It's vaguely possible that there would be some reason that a 4-conductor cable wouldn't be "legal", if breaker panel is old enough, or there's something weird about how it's fed.  You'd have to ask an electrician.

   From an electrical standpoint, in a 3-pin 240V receptacle it doesn't matter which pin white and black go on, but there may be a code thing about it anyway.  (Note that it DOES matter very much with a 120V receptacle.)

2. 
   willim | Feb 22, 2014 08:45pm | #4

   Electric Dryer Receptacle.

   You know, please disregard all that I just asked.  I need to get the electrician out to run a four-wire cable like I think he should have done in the first place.  But I still don't understand why he ran a three wire cable and used a receptacle that no dryer plug will fit.  Was he saving money?  Would a four wire require a more expensive breaker?  Do you think he had a 6-50 receptacle from another job and didn't have a use for it?

   I thank you for your time.

1. 
   DanH | Feb 22, 2014 10:06pm | #5

   Have no idea what was going on here.  He may have simply grabbed the wrong receptacle (though one would think he would have noticed).

2. 
   gfretwell | Feb 23, 2014 01:19am | #6

   That is the right answer. Get him to do it right.