What year did NEC change for dryer outlets?

[LarryMcL]

What year did the NEC change for dryer outlets. I blow out sprinklers in my subdivision using a 22v compressor I "inherited" from my son who'd used it when he painted houses to work his way through college. I've found a few of the earliest built houses have the old three prong "crow foot" style dryer outlet, but most have the new four prong outlet with one prong having the "L" shape. I'm seeking fuel to force the builder to go back and install a code approved dryer outlet. Larry

[RBM]

If you have a C/O for the house, it means there was a certificate of compliance for the electrical work issued, so I think it'll be pretty hard to force him to do anything. You should see if a 4 wire cable was run for the dryer as that would mean just changing the receptacle and dryer cord would be necessary

[hallerb]

if yur just looking to use your compressor build a adapter cord so it can plug in either style outlet.

If your home is more than a couple years old ging after the builder will likely cost more than its worth for legal fees, time and effort.

Way easier to run new cable and outlet and forget about it. \\ Such a issue should of been raised at the time of purchase, and would of likely been found by a home inspector.

builders and subs cut corners wherever they can to make a few more bucks:(

[John Grabowski]

I agree. I just opened up a three wire dryer receptacle yesterday for a customer and found that it was fed with a 10/3 with ground. The grounding conductor was used to ground the metal box that the receptacle was mounted in.

[DanG]

If you came to my house, I would prefer that you didn't disturb my stuff to plug in your compressor. I would kinda expect you to have a gas engined compressor to blow down my sprinkler lines.

That being said, if I did let you use my power and move my dryer to plug your stuff in, I would expect you to have whatever adapter cord ends premade to disrupt my stuff as little as possible. This would require you to carry a pigtail for 3 prong 20 amp, 3prong

30 amp, and 4 prong 30 amp, perhaps even 3 prong 50amp and 4 prong 50amp. There are also many compressors capable of running on 110 volt. Watch the amperage plates, good compressors often need 110 w 20 amp, mostly homes have 15 amp receptacles. Don't plan on running compressors on extension cords. ______________________________ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) [e-mail]

[Pete C.]

As others have said, whatever is there was approved by the local inspector so you're SOL on getting the builder to do anything. There is also no reason whatsoever to bother changing them as they work just fine. Indeed for your 220V compressor there is absolutely no difference between them since your compressor does not have a neutral to connect at all. Only for dryers where there are both 220V and 120V loads is there any (marginal) difference between the two types of outlet.

Pete C.

[gfretwell]

1996 but that was when the code was published Your area may not have actually adopted it for several years after that.