How do I wire a four prong plug onto this three wire appliance?

Sure would be helpful if you'd say more about the trailer... like what MAKE of trailer it is, what YEAR and SIZE of trailer it is... but never mind that. SIMPLY LOOK AT THE PLUG. IF IT IS A BIG APPLIANCE SIZE PLUG WITH FOUR PRONGS, IT IS LIKELY A 50 AMP PLUG, AND IF IT IS A BIG APPLIANCE SIZE PLUG WITH THREE PRONGS, IT IS LIKELY A 30 AMP PLUG. If it is a regular size three prong plug (like you'd plug into the wall), it is a 15 Amp plug.

Hello

Plug the microwave into the outlet if the microwave won't power up. Make sure the plugs on the microwave match the type of outlet. A four-pronged outlet can only be used with a four-pronged plug. Same with three-pronged outlets---they only work with three-pronged plugs.


Inspect the plug. Make sure it hasn't been cut or tampered with. Four-pronged plugs can't be cut down to fit a three-pronged outlet. Three-pronged plugs mustn't be forced into four-pronged outlets. A three-pronged plug mustn't be used in a two-pronged outlet, either.


Replace blown fuses, or if there's a circuit breaker, check it for tripped breakers. Sometimes the trip won't be obvious, so cycle the circuit breakers. Turn them all the way off and then back on again.


Plug another appliance in the outlet. You will find this easier with three-pronged appliances. Simply plug a toaster, or other appliance into the microwave's outlet, and see if it works. If it works, you know the problem is with the microwave, not the power circuit. Have the microwave serviced or replace it. If the toaster or other appliance doesn't turn on, you know the problem is with the circuit.

1. Plug the microwave into the outlet if the microwave won't power up. Make sure the plugs on the microwave match the type of outlet. A four-pronged outlet can only be used with a four-pronged plug. Same with three-pronged outlets---they only work with three-pronged plugs.

2. Inspect the plug. Make sure it hasn't been cut or tampered with. Four-pronged plugs can't be cut down to fit a three-pronged outlet. Three-pronged plugs mustn't be forced into four-pronged outlets. A three-pronged plug mustn't be used in a two-pronged outlet, either.

3. Replace blown fuses, or if there's a circuit breaker, check it for tripped breakers. Sometimes the trip won't be obvious, so cycle the circuit breakers. Turn them all the way off and then back on again.

4. Plug another appliance in the outlet. You will find this easier with three-pronged appliances. Simply plug a toaster, or other appliance into the microwave's outlet, and see if it works. If it works, you know the problem is with the microwave, not the power circuit. Have the microwave serviced or replace it. If the toaster or other appliance doesn't turn on, you know the problem is with the circuit.
Hope i could help you.
Have a nice day : )

1) Plug the microwave into the outlet if the microwave won't power up. Make sure the plugs on the microwave match the type of outlet. A four-pronged outlet can only be used with a four-pronged plug. Same with three-pronged outlets---they only work with three-pronged plugs.
2) Inspect the plug. Make sure it hasn't been cut or tampered with. Four-pronged plugs can't be cut down to fit a three-pronged outlet. Three-pronged plugs mustn't be forced into four-pronged outlets. A three-pronged plug mustn't be used in a two-pronged outlet, either.
3) Replace blown fuses, or if there's a circuit breaker, check it for tripped breakers. Sometimes the trip won't be obvious, so cycle the circuit breakers. Turn them all the way off and then back on again.
4) Plug another appliance in the outlet. You will find this easier with three-pronged appliances. Simply plug a toaster, or other appliance into the microwave's outlet, and see if it works. If it works, you know the problem is with the microwave, not the power circuit. Have the microwave serviced or replace it. If the toaster or other appliance doesn't turn on, you know the problem is with the circuit.

Hello Doris, You really don't want to get an adpater for this, (even if you could find one - they're not at all common) since the thickness of adding in an adapter would make the dryer stick out further from the wall, etc.

What you need to do is to get a new "pigtail" for the dryer that has the three (3) prong plug that matches your 220 Volt-AC wall outlet. These are available at most Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, or at any appliance or Hardware store. They don't cost all that much and will provide you with the correct plug and cord set for your house's electric dryer outlet.

The four (4) prong cord & plug has a separate ground wire in them, while the standard thre (3) prong plug uses the netural as the ground, or has a separate green wire running from the dryer cabinet to either a grounding screw on the wal plate, or to a ground ******** a water pipe (typically found in older homes)

Just be sure to unplug the dryer before changing the cordset out for the 3 prong one. Make sure the power is also off at the breaker panel too. Now at the rear of the dryer there is a small access panel where the cordset goes into the dryer. Remove that panle and you'll see three (3) connections on the panel along with a Green Grounding connection.

The connectors that get the power are the outside connectors, these are "HOT" and get 120 V-AC each (120 x 2 = 240 Volts AC) while the connector in the middle is the NEUTRAL connection point.

The wiring is straightforward and there should be a simple wiring diagram either on the access panel or the connection points should be labeled for each of the wiring fasteners (screws or nuts)

Just be sure to get the fasteners tight, and the new 3 prong cordset you buy should be long enough to reach from the dryer (when it's pulled away from the wall) to the house outlet. Typically they come in either a 3-4 foot length or the longer ones are 5-6 feet long. If in doubt, get the longer cordset. You can also check the wrapper of the new cordset, as they provide a simple wiring diagram also, to help you install it correctly.

http://z.about.com/d/electrical/1/0/r/0/-/-/DryerElectricalConnection.jpg

Just be sure to add the included strain relief, as instructed, onto the cordset and put the access panel back on when you're done and you'll be all set to use that "new" used dryer!

I hope you find this Very Helpful and best regards!

These two pictures illustrate the power wiring on a the terminal of an electric dryer. The one to the left here is the old-style three-wire configuration. Most people have this type in their homes. New code changes, though, require that dryers now have a four-wire cord, shown to the right. These are just just thumbnail pictures that you can click for a larger view. But I'll bet you already figured that out, didn't you?
Besides the number of wires in each cord, there are two important things to notice. First, in the four-wire configuration, notice that the dryer's grounding strap is folded back on itself. The whole point of the four-wire cord is to separate the ground from the neutral. The green wire (the "new" extra wire in the four-wire cord) is attached to the dryer cabinet. In the three-wire configuration, the grounding strap is left intact and the neutral and ground are tied together.
If you need to re-wire the outlet, these pictures will explain the anatomy of the three-prong (left) and four-prong (right) outlets. Once again, these pictures are just thumbnails--click 'em for a larger view.

Sure hope this helps you find a resolution to your delimma! Best wishes.

Comments: Jul 23, 2009-

Three wire Four wire.


Better? Best wishes and sorry about the pics. Hope this is better.

The following link explains how to install a power cord for your appliance:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r793520-3_prong_4_prong_power_cord_conversion

Refer to the section that discusses converting from a 4-prong to a 3-prong power cord.

If you have questions, let me know. I hope this helps you.

PS The GREEN wire is ground and gets grounded to the appliance frame.

The following link explains how to connect a power cord to your appliance:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r793520-3_prong_4_prong_power_cord_conversion

Now keep in mind, some newer appliances REQUIRE a 4-prong plug in order to work properly. You may consider having a four-prong outlet installed to accomodate your dryer.

You can try these steps by referring to to section that discusses converting from a 4-prong to a 3-prong power cord.

If you have questions, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

hi thanks for the question the green wire goes to the frame of the dryer other wires red to red white to white black to black thanks the appliance doc

Is the receptacle in the wall a four prong or three prong. You will have to match the cord on the dryer to the wall recepticle. If the wall is four prong the dryer cord has to be a four prong. The green wire with the yellow line, that is on the end of the dryer cord, is a cabinet ground and should be attached to the cabinet of the dryer and making good contact. The other three wires on the end of the dyrer cord attach to the terminal block.