Early Inglis Belt Drive Set

[combo52]

Converting a 1960 whirlpool built gas dryer to electric

You may be able to use the heater box from the one pictured if it physically fits and then you just need a heat relay and wire one leg of the 240 V through the safety thermostat on the heater box and you should be good to go.

Take the heater box out of the gas dryer and see if the entire heater box from the electric dryer will fit, if it doesn’t fit, I might have a complete heater box for one of those early electric dryers here somewhere.

I would save all the gas parts just in case your living situation ever changes and you are in a place with natural gas. It could be converted back easily.

I would not be as keen on using propane it very expensive and more dangerous than natural gas.
John

 

[114jwh]

Thanks so much for your help John. This one has me a bit stumped, partially because I don't understand the operation of gas valves very well. When I disconnect the gas valve I'm left with 3 wires as shown on the wiring diagram. I know this is where I need to connect the heater but can't seem to wrap my head around how to connect

Another twist with this is the heating element is a dual wattage so there is three terminals. On the Inglis dryer, the high/low temperature is controlled by the timer (as seen on the filter lid) although there is an air/heat switch on the control panel to turn off the heater.

The final twist is I need to use the motor from the donor machine, this has 5 terminals vs the existing motor having 4.

I'll have to figure out a relay as well - is there one you can recommend or the specs I should look for?

The heater box does fit from the type 2 dryer onto the type 1 dryer. The only difference is it sits a bit more proud on the dryer it came from vs the dryer its going into due to some welded brackets on the back but I don't think this will be an issue.

Thanks so much!

 

[114jwh]

Looks like the photos didn't make it with my previous message so here they are!

 

[maytag85]

Be sure to oil the drum bearing to make sure everything is well lubricated to keep everything operating smoothly. Don’t know what the lubricating process is like on these older Whirlpool dryers, but I imagine it’s similar to a Maytag HOH dryer.

 

[114jwh]

Just a quick update - starting to get this dryer buttoned up. I painted over some rusty areas and cleaned up a few others. That felt seal around the exhaust doesn't have much life yet but I think I might be able to use a aftermarket universal dryer seal to make a new one.

Still struggling a bit with the wiring piece but once that is figured out it should be good to go!

Another plug for anyone that might have a wiring diagram for the electric version of this dryer or something close - I'd be super grateful

Thanks everyone!

 

[DADoES]

 
Looks great!

 

[combo52]

Early Whirlpool, gas dryer conversion to electric

Hi James, yes the machine is looking great.

It’s fairly easy to convert from gas to electric you’ve already done the most difficult part installing the heater assembly.

You need to get a 120 V coil relay that can handle at least 25 A and connect the power to the coil on the relay to the 1V and 3V wires That went to the burner assembly.

Connect the motor up the way it was before even though there are five wires on the replacement motor you only use for you might have to install a jumper.

If you still have the wiring harness from the electric dryer, you took the heater from installed the terminal block and use some of the heavy wiring that’s attached to it going down to the heater. You will wire relay on one side of the line let’s say L one and you’ll wire L2 through the high limit thermostat at the bottom of the heater box to the common wire of the three terminals on the heater the other two terminals get tied together.

It might be easier if you call me. I’m around this afternoon if you like, I can go over a little bit more detail.

But it’s pretty easy to do we converted Paul Chaks’s 1965 Kenmore dryer from gas to electric and I’ve done many others. I’ve also converted quite a few electric ones as needed.

John