maryte wrote: 
See my previous post.  And/or any semi-competent electrical-aisle guy at your local lumberyard/home center.

 maryte wrote: 
there you go ...

 OCDHG wrote: 
Awesome! A couple of beer-swilling OCD monkeys wiring my house. I'm all over that!

My biggest concern is that we don't have a fucking clue as to what parts to buy.

 Beaker wrote: 
bingo ...

If you actually got a 220, you're SOL.  Return it or hire someone. That requires adding a circuit at the breaker box.

EDIT:    good!  Then you can do this!

 Beaker wrote: 

I stand corrected - it's 110 (both old and new).

 maryte wrote: 
I'm going to take a wild guess and say no it isn't. What's the model/where'd you get it?

 Xeric wrote: 
I agree   Super easy I promise.  If appy and I could install a box, anyone can.  But if you have the cash and don't want the hassle, it should be cheap if you have to hire it out.  We'd do it for beer.

 maryte wrote: 
You need an "old work box" (an outlet box designed to be installed in a simple hole in the drywall, no nailing to studs, etc, required), a recepticle, a cover plate, and a cord end.  Five bucks total.  Maybe a keyhole saw to hack the hole in the wall.  Really—sleep on this, talk to me or one of the other people who's offered on the phone, and carry on.  There's NO reason to pay anybody for this job!

 Beaker wrote: 
I've never seen a dishwasher with 4 prongs.  Dryer, maybe.. dishwasher no.



Did you get some kind of industrial dishwasher?  A Hobart, maybe?? 

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
do you guys have these:

Well, this also means that we'll have to figure out what we need before we even know how to install it.

 maryte wrote: 
Cut the plug off?

Does the hardwireyness come out of the wall thru any kind of box, or just a hole punched in the plaster? If it's a box, you can wire up a new outlet (69¢ down at the True Value) and you're off to the races. The box will have threaded holes to accept the socket...

It goes without saying, does it not, that you should flip the breaker to the dishwasher (possibly also the whole kitchen, hey) before doing any of this, right?

If the wire just comes snaking out of the wall with no box/cover plate, you can (turn off the power) cut the plug off the dishwasher, cut the wire about a foot out from the wall, remove some insulation from each cut end, separate out the wires by color (the wall should have white/black/green-covered wires inside) and twist them together with wire nuts white-to-white, black-to-black. I'm sure it ain't code, tho. You can get wire nuts filled with tarry goop that will make it a water-resistant connection. It'll be fine.

 Steve wrote: 

 OCDHG wrote: 
Thanks, OC. That does sound like good advice. 

Wait appy says that because the dishwasher you bought has a plug you need to install an outlet box.  That's not hard either, really. We've done that and it is VERY simple.  Three wires, same as before— white to white, black to black, copper is the ground.  But would take some looking into or someone to walk you through it. 

But alternatively it won't cost a whole lot and it should be a very quick job.

Electricians are probably hurting for work right now, you might find a deal

 maryte wrote: 
Oh, foo.  You can run anything off a good-quality three-conductor commercial extension cord.  You can also—easily—install an outlet box to plug that new dishwasher into.  Don't give up! 

 oldslabsides wrote: 

I'm not blaming the electricians. They have a right to make a living too. But I'm just wondering why some dishwashers are wired one way, and others are/were another.

 oldslabsides wrote: 
ahh, red tape.  Balls.