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Dryer and stove outlets
The dryer outlet and the stove outlet: their shape, their rating, what Québec’s Code asks for, and what to do when the cord doesn’t fit.
In short
This guide covers the big 240 V outlets in the home: the dryer outlet and the stove outlet.
- In the 2018 edition of the Code, an electric dryer over 1,500 W at 115 V and up to 30 A plugs into a 14-30R receptacle.
- A free-standing electric range of up to 50 A plugs into a 14-50R receptacle (2018 edition).
- For its GEW1500RL0 dryer sold in Canada, the manufacturer Whirlpool calls for a grounded 4-prong outlet, type 14-30R.
- If that dryer’s cord doesn’t fit, Whirlpool says not to modify the plug and to have the proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.
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The dryer outlet
According to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec’s guide (2018 edition of the Code), the outlet of an electric dryer over 1,500 W at 115 V and up to 30 A has a CSA 14-30R configuration.
The bonding conductor connects to the screw provided for it on that outlet (2018 edition).
An electric dryer counts as a continuous load, and its outlet is protected by a breaker or fuses rated no higher than the outlet (2018 edition).
The stove outlet
A free-standing electric range with a demand load of up to 50 A plugs into a 14-50R receptacle, which a branch circuit of at least 40 A can supply (2018 edition).
Its outlet is protected by a breaker or fuses rated no higher than the outlet (2018 edition).
Its height is set by the Code (2018 edition): the details are in Dedicated circuits: which appliances need one?.
| Dryer | Stove | |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet | 14-30R | 14-50R |
| Rating | Up to 30 A | Up to 50 A (demand load) |
| What the Code asks for | 14-30R configuration, bonding at the outlet’s screw | 14-50R receptacle, branch circuit of at least 40 A |
| Edition | 2018 | 2018 |
The cord doesn’t fit
If the cord doesn’t fit: for its GEW1500RL0 dryer sold in Canada, the manufacturer Whirlpool is clear:
- don’t modify the plug supplied with the dryer;
- don’t use an extension cord;
- have the proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.
For that dryer, it’s the outlet that changes, not the plug, and that job goes to an electrical contractor.
What not to do
Never plug a portable generator into a dryer outlet with a double-male cord: see Generator transfer switch: the heart of the job.
For its GEW1500RL0 dryer, the manufacturer Whirlpool says not to use an extension cord.
The cord doesn’t fit?
We install the outlet that matches the appliance’s plug, with its circuit if needed. The price is in the quote.
Send my quote requestWhat we do
240 V outlets and circuits are part of the general electrical work we do every day.
Before adding a circuit, we check that the panel can take it: see Is 100 amp service enough?.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dryer 30 or 50 amps?
In the 2018 edition of the Code, an electric dryer of up to 30 A plugs into a 14-30R receptacle. The 14-50R receptacle is for a free-standing electric range of up to 50 A.
220 or 240 volts?
In Québec, Hydro-Québec supplies homes at 120/240 V: ordinary outlets are 120 V; the range and the dryer are 240 V. Some existing buildings are at 120/208 V instead.
Can I change the cord instead of the outlet?
For its GEW1500RL0 dryer, the manufacturer Whirlpool says not to modify the supplied plug and to have the proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician. For another appliance, follow its manual.
Can a dryer be plugged in with an extension cord?
Not the GEW1500RL0 dryer: its manufacturer, Whirlpool, says not to use an extension cord. For another appliance, follow its manual.
A new dryer or stove to connect?
We install 240 V outlets and circuits; the exact price is in the quote.
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Sources
Consulted on October 30, 2026.