How to Change an Electrical Outlet from a Range to a Dryer

Turn off the 50-amp double-pole range breaker inside your main circuit panel. Place a note on the panel warning your family that you are working on the electrical circuits, and not to touch the circuit panel.

Remove the four screws holding the cover on the 50-amp range outlet. Pull the cover off the range outlet to expose the screws holding the outlet in the electrical box.

Remove the two to four screws that hold the range outlet in the electrical box. Pull the range outlet from the electrical box.

Loosen the four screws on the back of the range outlet that connect the wires to the outlet. Pull the 6-gauge black, white, red and green wires out of the back of the outlet.

Slide the red wire you removed from the range outlet underneath one of the brass-colored terminal screws on the back of the 30-amp dryer outlet. Slide the black wire from the range outlet under the remaining brass-colored screws on the back of the dryer outlet. Turn the screws clockwise to tighten them and hold the wires inside the dryer outlet.

Place the green wire from the range outlet under the green screw on the back of the dryer outlet. Place the remaining white wire beneath the silver colored screw. Tighten the final two screws to hold the wires in place.

Push the 30-amp dryer outlet into the electrical box. Secure the new dryer outlet in place using the screws that came with the new 30-amp outlet.

Install a new dryer outlet cover over the dryer outlet. Secure it to the outlet with the screws provided with the new 30-amp dryer outlet cover.

Turn the main breaker to the “Off” position on your main circuit panel. Remove the screws securing the cover to the circuit panel. Remove the panel cover to expose the wiring connections to the breakers.

Loosen the two screws on the back of the 50-amp double-pole breaker. Pull the 6-gauge black and red wires from beneath the screws.

Pull the original 50-amp double-pole breaker from the circuit panel. Snap a 30-amp double-pole breaker into the slot vacated by the 50-amp breaker.

Slide the red 6-gauge wire beneath one of the empty screws on the back of the new 30-amp breaker. Slide the black 6-gauge wire underneath the other empty screw on the breaker. Tighten both screws to hold the two wires to the new double-pole breaker.

Replace the main circuit panel cover, and turn on the main breaker. Turn the new 30-amp breaker to the “On” position.