Dishwasher Power Cord has Two White Wires. Isn't the wide one neutral?

Question

A contractor hooked up our dishwasher this way (see image), but I believe it's wrong. The dishwasher's hot (black) and neutral (white) wires are the ones going into each wire nut from the left side. The power cord he used has two white wires, though, one of which is wider than the other. Those are going into each wire nut from the right side.

As you can see, he connected that wider white wire to the black hot wire. Isn't that wider one the neutral wire? If so, that would mean those two wires coming from the power cord should be switched! Sorry if this is a dumb question. I don't know much about electrical, but I'm suspicious about this.

Thanks

mjt117 · Answer

Which are the wires coming from the control box from the dishwasher and which are coming from your breaker? I'd imagine the black & white are coming from the dishwasher. If that's the case (I may be wrong here) can't you just test the two white wires coming from your panel to see which is hot? Touch the tester to the copper head of each wire (be very careful and ensure that each wire is separated, DO NOT touch any of these together while the nuts are off and the power is on) and whichever gives you a voltage reading that should be nutted with the black wire (again assuming this is the one coming from the dishwasher). Hope this helps.

Answered by mjt117 on November 12, 2021

Tyson · Answer

That looks like a standard appliance cord.

Look closely at the cord and you will notice one conductor is ribbed. Follow it... It should lead to the neutral side of the plug and the white wire on the dishwasher.   The ribbed side being neutral is an industry standard, if the plug is molded on to the cord it will follow this convention.

You are correct about the wide BLADE being neutral, but wrong about how to follow it.

I think I can see the rib in both pictures, when enlarged, and it appears correctly wired, but you should double check this.

Edit addition:

There are different type of rib on SPT cord, the picture shows a single rib.  There are also versions with multiple small ribs, which is more obvious.

On the straight cord picture in the question the ribbed conductor appears to be the one without the writing.

Dishwasher Power Cord has Two White Wires. Isn't the wide one neutral?

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