I have read the original posts here, but just want to make sure I am correct. Just bought a new dryer (been using mother nature for the past year)
I have 50 amp (double pole) breakers in my service panel, labeled "Range Basement" (must have been a range in the basement at one point). It feeds roughly 25 feet of 6/3 wire, at the end is a 50 AMP 3 prong (all diagonal) range outlet.
I should probably change the breakers to 30 AMP (in case something goes wrong with the new drier), but here is where I am still a little confused. Do I replace (if I keep the 50 AMP breakers) the outlet with a new 50 AMP, or can I just go down and buy a new 50 AMP range power cord for the drier?
Its obvious that the dryer will never pull enough amps to trip the 50 AMP beakers, and there will never be a Range in my basement again.
Best Answer
The dryer could pull 50 amps if it malfunctions or sustains damage. Use a breaker that's appropriate for the equipment.
Why would you change the cord and not the receptacle? It probably violates code to use a cord with the 50-amp configuration on a 30 amp circuit. Someone down the road could plug a range back in and have an overload situation.
Change the breaker and the receptacle.