How to Convert a Three-Prong Cooking Stove to a Four-Prong

Recent electrical code changes require four-pronged cords on electric ranges.

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Electric stoves use both 120 volt and 240 volt current. Two wires supply 120 volts which combines to provide 240 volts. A third neutral wire provides a return path for the 120 volt current. Modern electrical wiring codes require a fourth wire that attaches to the home's electrical grounding electrode which protects users from faults or shorts in the wiring system. Most electric ranges are easily converted from three-prong cords to four-prong cords.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions 1

Turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse that controls power to the stove. Pull the stove away from the wall and remove the plug from the outlet. Remove the screw that holds the wiring box cover on the back of the stove to expose the cord connections.

2

Examine the cord connections. Two colored wires, often both black or one black and one red, each supply 120 volts of current. Look for the white neutral wire connection. You will see a metal strap or wire, called the ground strap, that goes from the white neutral terminal to the metal case of the stove. Make note of the wire connections so you can duplicate them with the new cord.

3

Loosen the screws that connect the three wires and remove the old cord. Remove the ground strap from neutral terminal. Loosen the screw that holds the ground strap to the metal case and remove the ground strap.

4

Place the green ground wire on the screw that previously held the ground strap to the metal case. This screw is often green. Place the white wire on the same terminal as the previous white wire, and the two colored wires on the remaining two terminals. Tighten all the terminals with the screwdriver and make them very tight. A firm connection is required.

5

Replace the wiring box cover and the screw that holds it in place. Plug the cord into the receptacle range and slide the stove back into place. Turn on the circuit breaker or reinstall the fuse.

Tips & Warnings

This process separates the neutral from the ground. In older connections, the electrical codes allowed the ground and the neutral to share the same wire, but newer codes disallow that configuration.

Older cords are sometimes difficult to remove from the receptacle. Turn off the power to avoid possible electric shock while removing or installing the cord.

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References"Wiring Simplified, 40th Edition"; Herbert P. Richter, et al.; 2002ResourcesAmerican A/C and Appliance Electric Dryer How To CordPhoto Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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