I own an Amana Heavy Duty dryer, model # NDE880AYW, and I'm trying to change a three prong cord for a four prong cord. I know nothing about electricals so I need help at a very elementary level. I have been able to connect the black, white and red wires correctly, I believe. My problem is where to connect the green wire. There are two green bolts on my dryer, one on an inside wall that already has a small white wire connected to it, (this wire is coming from the control panel at the top of the dryer) and another green bolt about 12 inches below the hole that the wires fit into. Do I connect it to the one on the inside, even though there's a wire already connected to it, or to the outside bolt? I would have to cut the black plastic casing that holds the four wires in order for the green wire to reach the outside bolt. What do I do?
Dryers - Amana
Answers & Comments
First off. Do any and all electrical connections with the PLUG detached from the wall receptacle.. The Green Wire is earth ground and should be connected to the nearest Chassis or Frame terminal.. There should be one near the terminal block for the two power ( red & black) and one neutral ( white).. It's OK to double up the green wire with other green wires.. so your answer is YES.. connect it to the nearest Green wire terminal.. This green wire provides protection to you and anyone else from getting electrocuted by bonding the frame/chassis as well as other sheet metal parts to earth ground.. Hope that helps...
Regardless of the wire color being white or green, if the terminal is physically bolted into or part of the washer chassis/frame then that is a ground terminal. The white wire coming from your control box and tied to that green terminal may be a ground wire or a neutral tied there as well so having that white wire tied to a green wire is ok..
The only thing you need to do with the green wire is make sure it is electrically secured to the washer frame/chassis. No worries on the white wire fastened there.. just leave it and add your green one to that terminal..
On a side note: If you were to access you circuit breaker box in your basement and open it up ( not suggesting you do this... just providing some incite).. You would see the Neutral Buss and Ground Buss are bonded together ( so white wires... representing neutral and green wires representing ground are actually bonded to the same place in your basement...) just an FYI ... Hope this gets you up and going without apprehension or questions.. Regards, Rick