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220 volt 3-wire vs. 4-wire

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220 volt 3-wire vs. 4-wire M.Burns 05-11-2008
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Posted by S. Barker on May 11, 2008, 7:16 pm
if the grounding jumper is properly in place, then it's just as safe as a 4
wire. IF in fact anyone was actually shocked by a dryer, then it was a
dufus installation problem, not a # of wires problem.

steve


On May 11, 2:05?pm, inva...@notreal.none (Beachcomber) wrote:
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> >I will add that i think 3 wire is a bad idea, with a bad day it could
> >be a real hazard....
>
> >buy a new dryer? then get a new cord and updated outlet
>
> Problem is - ?Many older houses are not wired for the updated outlet.
> If you don't have the proper wiring at the outlet (2 hots - Neutral
> -Ground), you are not allowed to install the 4 wire code-compliant
> outlet (vs. the old 3 wire outlet). ?Hence the grandfather clause...
>
> For many older houses - installing new dryer wiring would be difficult
> (expensive) and involve pulling new wires and possibly ripping up
> walls.
>
> The NEC allowed the 3 wire exception to save on copper during WWII.
> Then, one or two people got electrocuted by their dryers and they
> decided to go back to 4 wire some years ago.
>
> ? Apparently Canada never did this. ?Anyone know for sure?

for safety its likely worth the effort.

just look at all the other updates required today, GFCI, arc fault,
getting rid of K&T to obtain insurance, replacing fuse boxes, etc etc.

wonder why the dryer exception has survived?



Posted by Beachcomber on May 12, 2008, 3:54 am
On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:16:08 -0500, "S. Barker"

>if the grounding jumper is properly in place, then it's just as safe as a 4
>wire. IF in fact anyone was actually shocked by a dryer, then it was a
>dufus installation problem, not a # of wires problem.
>

Safe is a relative term. The safest installation would be to have
the neutral separate from the grounded frame of the dryer, especially
since in the US, dryers have 120 V. motors and thus there is always
neutral current flowing when the appliance is operating.

The exception was apparently allowed because it is extremely rare for
the neutral to become disconnected, which could potentially energize
the frame of the dryer to 120 V. Most dryers are installed next to a
washing maching, which is more-than-likely to be properly grounded.
Thus you would have a possible shock hazard.

But, as mentioned before, most owners of older homes are not going to
want to spend the money to rewire the dryer circuit for something that
has basically worked fine for 10-40 years, if the 3-wire dryer plug
option is allowed.



Posted by Mark on May 12, 2008, 9:37 am

> if the grounding jumper is properly in place, then it's just as safe as a 4
> wire.


This is NOT true.

The three wire system, even when properly installed to code is
dangerous becasue an OPEN circuit (which can happen) in the 3rd ground/
neutral wire) can end up energizing the metal chassis of the dryer
through the 120 volt clock motor or other 120 volt parts in the
dryer. If someone then touches say the properly grounded washing
machine and the dryer at the same time, they could get a dangerous
shock.

That being said, I have a three wire install in my house and it can be
made safe with the simple addition of an axtra ground wire connected
from the case of the dreyer to a good ground such as a nearby water
pipe. I have a ground wire connected between the dreyer and the
washer, therefore there can be no voltage across them.

Yes three wire system were code and can be grandfathered to code, but
they can still be dangerous and I would add the extra ground wire to
be safe. Rewiring for a full 4 prong plug can be expensive if a new
cable has to be pulled. Adding an external ground wire is cheap and
easy and effective.

Mark

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