3 Wire Dryer Cord No Colors: How Do You Install The Connections?
Isn’t it troublesome to connect the 3-wire dryer cord without any color coding on the wires? Therefore, knowing the placement of the wires will make the task a lot easier to finish. In the 3-wire system, the neutral wire is placed in between the two phase wires.
Here we will discuss the 3 wire dryer cord no colors situation where we’ll unveil the reason behind the placement of the wires and how to install them safely, thus preventing a short circuit inside the cord.
Make sure to read the article thoroughly!
How to Identify the Connections in the 3 Wire Dryer?
There are mainly two types of wire configuration when it comes to connecting the dryers to the main line:
- 4-wire dryer cord
- 3-wire dryer cord
The Spruce has clearly shown the main difference between their configurations is that the 4-wire dryer has a ground potential wire in addition to the neutral. Moreover, the wires in the 4-wire are color-coded, unlike the 3-wire.
So, how to identify the wires in the 3-wire configuration? As two of the three wires will be conducting a considerable amount of line currents, the resistance will eventually heat the conductors.
Therefore, if they are placed side by side, this can create extra power loss and even create an unwanted electric shock for the user. Hence, to maintain such disasters, a neutral wire is always placed in between the two live wires.
Moreover, the color of the three wires is gray, and if you’re lucky, the middle wire will be labeled as neutral. Just have a look out while you’re going through the installation process of the 3-wire dryer system.
3 Wire Dryer Cord No Colors- Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Here is a step-by-step installation guide for the 3-wire dryer cord. Make sure to follow each step with caution.
- Get a perfect-sized screwdriver to unveil the terminal block.
- Unscrew the screw of the access panel and remove the front lid to showcase the terminal block.
- Once you’ve opened the terminal block, you will notice that there are 3 ports at the front and one other port at the side. The side port is known as ground potential. Leave it as there is no need for that in case of a 3-wire dryer cord installation.
- As you already know, the middle wire is neutral; connect that wire with the middle part of the terminal block.
- Then connect the other two live wires at the left side and the right side port of the terminal block.
- Make sure to tighten the screws with the proper force to avoid any loose connections.
- Attach the strain relief to the holder. The main purpose of strain relief is to prevent dryer fires due to short circuits in the terminal block.
- Then attach the access panel and you’re good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the 3-wire dryer cord come with color coding?
No! Unlike a 4-wire dryer cord, a 3-wire dryer cord does not come with color coding. Among the 3 wires, the middle wire is termed neutral, and the other two side wires are considered as the phase.
Does the 3-wire dryer cord have any ground potential?
The 3-wire dryer cord consists of a neutral wire and two-phase wire and no potential ground connection. Fortunately, the neutral wire acts as the ground in this case.
What’s the significance of a ground wire?
Most cords come with neutral wire, but if there’s any ground wire, then it’s there for an extra level of protection. Normally, every appliance works perfectly, even without the ground wire.
Conclusion
Connecting a 3 wire dryer cord no colors is not troublesome. In fact, it’s a simple process that is a piece of cake for everybody. Just keep in mind that the middle wire is neutral, and the other two side wires are considered phase-carrying line currents. For those who have similar problems, after seeing the step-by-step guidelines and a tutorial video that we provided, it shouldn’t be an issue anymore
You Can Also Read:
- You Replaced Outlet Now Switch Doesn’t Work? Find The Easiest Solution!
- Find Out Why Are Your Outlets In Room Not Working But Lights Are
- Can I Adjust A 30/50 Pressure Switch To 40/60: How To Do So?