How to Install a 4-Prong Plug for a Kenmore Dryer
Home clothes dryers are designed to operate on 220-240-volt alternating current. 220-240-volt outlets use special plugs which differ from the standard 120-volt electrical outlets that most home electrical equipment operates on. In addition, there are two primary types of 220-240-volt outlets: three-prong and four-prong. When purchasing a dryer the correct type of plug must be installed to the dryer so it can work with your home's 220-volt outlets. Installation of a four-prong plug on a Kenmore dryer is a straight-forward operation that doesn't require any special electrical training.
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Remove the back panel of the dryer. On Kenmore dryers this is a sheet metal panel, held in place with either regular or hex-headed screws. Use the correct type of screwdriver or socket to remove the screws. Set the panel aside.
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Look inside for the dryer's terminal block. This will be a metal and hard plastic rectangular panel, with three screws attached.
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If there is a grounding strap (a wide metal strap) attached to the center screw of the terminal block, remove it by taking out the screw it is attached to on the terminal block.
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Remove the other two screws on the terminal block. Attach the white wire that's connected to the plug to the center screw by positioning the ring on the end of the wire over the screw hole, inserting the screw through the hole and tightening the screw.
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Attach the red wire that's connected to the plug to the right hand screw by positioning the ring on the end of the wire over the screw hole, inserting the screw through the hole and tightening the screw.
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Attach the black wire that's connected to the plug to the right hand screw by positioning the ring on the end of the wire over the screw hole, inserting the screw through the hole and tightening the screw.
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Attach the green wire to the grounding screw on the frame of the dryer. If you can't locate the grounding screw, drill a small hole into a metal portion of the dryer frame and attach the wire with a sheet metal screw.
References
- "Wiring 1-2-3"; The Home Depot; 2005
Writer Bio
Based in Virginia, Nichole Liandi has been a freelance writer since 2005. Her articles have appeared on various print and online publications. Liandi has traveled extensively in Europe and East Asia and incorporates her experiences into her articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from West Virginia University.
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