Dryer Cord and Electric Circuit Wiring
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My Dryer Cord that is Too Short, Can I Splice the Wires? I want to move my dryer to the other side of the laundry room but the cord isn’t long enough.
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Extending a Dryer Cord
Electrical Question: I want to move my dryer to the other side of the laundry room but the cord isn’t long enough.
- The dryer is 3-wire, 30 amp.
- The total distance is about 12 feet.
- I have an extra cord that came with a new dryer and has never been used, together they make the 12 foot length that I need.
- Can I splice them together? If so, how would you go about it?
This electrical question came from: David, a Homeowner from Portland, Oregon.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question David.
Dryer Cord that is Too Short
Application: Wiring a Dryer Cord.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed or Certified Electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools and connect the 240 volt dryer cord.
Precaution: Identify the dryer circuit at the electric panel, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the dryer cord wiring.
Notice: Wiring a dryer cord and making the electrical connections should be done according to local and national electrical codes and using approved materials.
Dryer Cord Length and Electrical Safety
- Wiring a Dryer Cord
- I would not recommend splicing these two appliance cords together because an appliance cord such as this should not be longer that 6 feet and it just would not be safe.
- Moving a Dryer Plug
- It would be best to install an extension box onto the existing dryer circuit box and extend the wiring to the new location of the dryer.
More about Wiring a Dryer Cord
Wiring a dryer
- Wiring a Dryer Cord
- See an electric dryer installation with a typical 220 Volt electric power cord wiring system.
- You may find yourself with either a 3-wire or 4-wire electric dryer, or a 3-wire or 4-wire outlet.
- Lets look a how the electric dryer is wired and what to do if your cord does not match the plug.
How to Install Laundry Room Electrical Wiring
- Laundry Room Electrical Wiring
- Fully Explained Photos and Wiring Diagrams for Laundry Room Electrical Wiring with Code Requirements for most new or remodel projects.
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You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes!
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Here's How to Do It:
Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book
Great for any Home Wiring Project.
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Perfect for Homeowners, Students,
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Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet
How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring
Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring
NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring
....and much more.
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Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.
Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right
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The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!
The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use. |
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The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!
The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets
Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency
Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included
Tests standard 3-wire outlets
UL Listed
Light indicates if wiring is incorrect
Very handy and easy to use. |
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Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!
The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
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The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..
The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use. |
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I bought a used washer dryer with a three wire set up. The plug type is 3 wire with no ground. The breaker is wired with white and black to the 240 breaker and the solid wire to the grounding bar. The wall plug shows the white neutral goes to the L shape and other two the x and y. Should the solid copper wire be changed to the neutral bar in the panel and is that what should be connected to the L shaped connector?
Hi Greg,
First – please verify that the dryer you have does not require a dedicated Neutral wire, and that the dryer is compatible with a 3-wire hook up, consisting of a 240 volt circuit and a ground wire.
For a 3-wire hookup for an electric dryer a ground wire is required which is bonded to the ground system of the electrical circuit panel, then at the wall plug the ground wire is attached to the ground terminal which is for the angle shaped prong of the dryer cord.
The 240 volt wires that are attached to the circuit breaker for the dryer should be verified and identified at the wall plug, where these wires are attached to the X and Y terminals of the wall plug receptacle.
IMPORTANT: If a white wire is used as part of the 240 volt circuit power, then the white wire(s) must be colored at the circuit breaker and the wall plug locations with red or black electrical tape or a permanent marker.
See my section about Wiring a Dryer for more information.
I hope this helps,
Dave
Does it matter if the plug from the dryer has the cord coming from the top or from the bottom when plugged in (mine has wire coming from top when plugged in). The wiring to the plug that I have is behind a finished wall and comes out 2 feet from the floor (foundation exposed there) and I curved it so I could attach the plug to the wainscoting wall, which seems to be the only way to install and secure the plug. There are cabinets above the dryer. I located the dryer plug high enough so I could reach and unplug without moving the machine. I don’t think it would be as easy to unplug and plug if the plug had the wire coming from the bottom. Also, the curve in the plug from the dryer to the plug seems much smoother than if i had to plug it in with the wire from the bottom, in this case the curve would be an ‘s’.
Hi Ernie,
There is no set height requirement that I am aware of for the receptacle outlet for a dryer cord. Locating the outlet box higher will definitely make the plug more accessible. I like to locate the cords out of sight but high enough for easier access, however keep in mind the required space for the cord and receptacle after they are plugged in and how this may cause the dryer to not fit flush against the wall. A dryer that will be located flush against the wall will require a recessed dryer vent connection and the dryer outlet to be properly located with the design of the dryer connections identified.
Dave