Installing 4 prong 14-30R corded newer dryer on an old 3 prong on 10-50P wall socket

Learn how I dealt with the challenge of installing a new electric laundry dryer with a 4-prong cord on an old 3-prong 10-50R wall plug in my 1970s house. Discover why using an adapter was the best solution to ensure safety and compliance with current electrical standards.

Parkworld 61025 Adapter Cord NEMA 10-50P Male to Dryer 14-30R Female, 30A, 125V/250V, 1.5FT

[OiVinn-eqml]

Can you plug the dryer with 4 wires then use a 3 a prong adapter? Or do you have to wire the dryer using 3 wires if using an adapter to match it?

[robertmitchell]

Should have shown what the adapter looked like and how its plugged in and connected

[turnersinsurance]

the 'original' 3-wire scheme for electric dryers was not 'dangerous', and never will be. what the electric code is doing is simply saying that a 4-wire scheme, with it's own ground wire, is 'safER'... although the likelihood of anyone on the 'old' wiring scheme would ever be shocked, or shocked enough to 'matter', is far and few in-between...

you also mention that you didn't want to be shocked with '250 volts' of electricity - your statement is another misleading comment: if either of the HOT wires broke/came loose/touched the chassis, AND the Neutral was also not doing it's job, AT THE SAME TIME and AT THE SAME MOMENT someone 'touched' the chassis, in that very, very unlikely moment, ONLY 120volts would be available, NOT 240/250. Each HOT wire is only 120v.

so, no, no one will 'die' because of this, and likely, even if the code had NEVER been changed, no one will EVER know the difference, except the wiring companies who produce the now 'needed' upgrade wiring pigtail, and 4-prong Outlets.