On 19 Oct 2005 04:48:55 -0700, pstock wrote:
I want to move a clothes dryer to the room that once had a oven/stove.
I notice that while both units use 240V the plugs are different - one
cannot just plug the dryer into the socket once used by the oven.


Nope. You can't, usually.

first, can anyone tell me why the sockets and plugs are different if
both applicances use 240V. and second, can I simply replace the oven
power socket with a new dryer-shaped one and carry on - or is there
something else that needs changing (like the breaker??) as well.

I think I read somewhere that ovens and dryers have require difference
amperage.


Yip.

A range that's plug-and-cord connected will usually (in the US) have
wiring that allows for 50A and a 50A recepticle. Our range specifically
recommends protection with 40A slo-blo, so that's what I installed when
we bought the range.

A dryer has 30A wiring and almost always a 30A fuse or breaker.

Assuming you can find a recepticle and breaker that fits your panel and
has sufficiently large clamps for the existing wire run, you need only
switch the recepticle and breaker. The dryer will Love the larger wire.