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I have a Whirlpool model LEC8858EQ0 dryer with a 3-prong cord and am installing a 4-prong cord. Everything has gone well, except the ground wire isn't nearly long enough to reach the grounding screw.

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In the picture you can see the grounding screw at top left and the ground wire hanging sadly below it. The difference is a couple of inches.

I tried connecting the ground wire first to make sure it reaches, but if I do that the rest of the wires are too far from where they need to be.

Is there something I can do to bridge the gap?

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    What make/model is your dryer? Do you need the full length of the cord, or is stripping a couple inches of cord jacket back to reveal more wire an option?
    – ThreePhaseEel
    Nov 17, 2020 at 2:50
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    Stripping insulation back means the ends can get further apart from each other, somewhere there will be more slack, which slightly reduces the usable length of the pigtail.
    – dandavis
    Nov 17, 2020 at 3:26
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    @DoxyLover Are you sure? Everyrhing I have seen says to connect it to the neutral. And I am not even sure how I would remove it.
    – indigochild
    Nov 17, 2020 at 7:46
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    NEC 110.3(B) you must follow the UL-approved instructions, not random yutzes on Youtube. So google them. With 4-wire, neutral and ground must be isolated from each other. You can test that by measuring the resistance between N and G prongs on the plug while unplugged, should be infinity. If not, probably that strap!
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Nov 17, 2020 at 9:26
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    According to these Whirlpool instructions (PDF pg 9) for a 4-wire installation, there is a "neutral ground wire" that does need to go to that center connector where the white wire is.
    – FreeMan
    Nov 17, 2020 at 12:05

3 Answers 3

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It appears to me you didn't buy the Whirlpool brand cord, WP has ring terminals not forks. It is quite possible the maker of your cord didn't expose enough conductor to spread the connections for your dryer. Your options would be to get a WP cord or cut the black jacket back another inch or two and loop line conductors a little below the terminals.

Do leave the bonding strap in place where you have it and as the instructions show. Many people don't realize that on Whirlpool dryers the other end of that 4" long green wire is a stake-on landed right back on top of the neutral terminal, and as connected for 4 wire connections it is just a pointless loop. Here is a picture of that wire https://amzn.to/2IJBUKl . It's just a place holder when wired for a 4 wire, but the part is present and moved to the ground screw if your only option is a 3 wire connection.

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    This is what I did. I ran a few tests today and it works fine.
    – indigochild
    Nov 17, 2020 at 19:45
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Your dryer cord a strain relief fitting, the metal bits you see on the white part in this picture:

4-wire dryer cord

If you loosen the screws on that, you can move the position of the strain relief a little towards the plug to get a little more wire inside the dryer, then tighten them up again so the cord grip stays in that place. None of the wires should be strung taught, there should be some play in there.

The white stuff there is just a little extra protection for the cord jacket. If you have to move it far enough that it goes off that white stuff, wrap a few wraps of electrical tape around the black jacket under the cord grip for extra protection.

With a four-wire cord, that green-with-yellow-stripe jumper will not be connected. That is for three wire cords. Remove that jumper, let it dangle, with a bit of electrical tape on it to cover the exposed metal.

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    Your jumper advice is the opposite of what the instructions (whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/201608/…) say.
    – nobody
    Nov 17, 2020 at 12:30
  • @nobody - I wouldn't say opposite, but maybe unclear, I edited to clarify.
    – batsplatsterson
    Nov 17, 2020 at 13:46
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    @batsplatsterson Whirlpool dryers when used w/4 wire connections that green jumper is fastened as a place holder to the center screw. The wire just loops to the top of the terminal block and is crimped right back to the neutral terminal. Look at the bottom wire in this replacement part appliancepartspros.com/…
    – NoSparksPlease
    Nov 17, 2020 at 17:41
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The blue green wire is only for use on 3 prong dryer cords. Code used to allow dryers to be grounded through the neutral. Many homes still have dryer outlets that are only 3 wires, 2 hots and a neutral. When using the dryer in such a home with a 3 prong cord you leave the blue green wire connected. Just loosen the screw and slip the blue green wire out of the neutral contact. I would also bet if you follow the blue green wire you will find the other end is connected to the frame of the dryer.

The problem with leaving that wire connected is it will create current flow on the green safety ground wire which is NOT allowed or even safe. Basically the green ground and the neutral will "split" the job of having any neutral currents flow back to the panel.

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    Your jumper advice is the opposite of what the instructions (whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/201608/…) say.
    – nobody
    Nov 17, 2020 at 12:30
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    That green wire loops back to the top of the terminal block and does nothing when you leave it in place for 4 wire cords, as the installation instructions say to install it. When you need 3 wire you move the ring to the ground screw which then bonds the center terminal to ground.
    – NoSparksPlease
    Nov 17, 2020 at 17:01

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