Myers ¾ HP Ejecto Jet Pump. My wife watered the lawn until the well ran dry. Upon inspection the breaker had tripped. Breaker reset without a problem, but when the pressure dropped from 50 to 30 psi and the motor kicked on - the breaker tripped again. It wouldn’t reset for about 5 minutes, but then could be reset and the tank filled to 50 psi. We’ve been thru the same cycle countless times while I try to figure out the problem. Just after the breaker trips, if I attempt to reset the breaker, the pump starts for a fraction of a second and the breaker trips again. This will occurs about 2 – 3 times before the pump remain silent when I attempt to reset the breaker. In any case, after a few minutes the breaker can be reset. I’ve been told a thermo-coupler in the pump itself is faulty and I should replace the whole pump, but I have my doubts. Any advice or suggestions?
Breaker trips, can reset after 5 minutes
- Thread starter dajayosan
- Start date
Speedbump
Active Member
When a breaker trips and the thermal overload protector trips as well, your supposed to listen to them when they are saying there is something wrong with the motor/pump.
For some reason your motor is not starting each time it should. When a motor fails to start when power is applied, it will continue pulling startup amps which are 5 times greater than running amps. It could be a bad start capacitor, a bad start switch or a bad start winding. If you don't know how to check these things, at least quit resetting the breaker until someone who does know what to do checks it out. Or if the motor isn't ruined already, it soon will be.
bob...
For some reason your motor is not starting each time it should. When a motor fails to start when power is applied, it will continue pulling startup amps which are 5 times greater than running amps. It could be a bad start capacitor, a bad start switch or a bad start winding. If you don't know how to check these things, at least quit resetting the breaker until someone who does know what to do checks it out. Or if the motor isn't ruined already, it soon will be.
bob...
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Follow-up feedback
Had a pump professional in to look over the situation. The motor had a slightly excessive initial power draw of about 17 amps, ran well after starting at about 7 - 11 amps. The initial power draw is what was setting off the 15 amp breaker, apparently weakened with age. He recommended upgrading the breaker to a 20 amp breaker, still safe. The motor runs fine once started. We switched to a different/spare 15 amp breaker and the pump starts and runs without a problem. Go figure. I'm having an electrician in soon to do avariety of work. We'll look into the electrical side of the pump at that time. The pump MAY need replacing in the future, just not right now, and I will continue to be vigilant in monitoring its performance. Its been more than a week and the pump is working fine.
Had a pump professional in to look over the situation. The motor had a slightly excessive initial power draw of about 17 amps, ran well after starting at about 7 - 11 amps. The initial power draw is what was setting off the 15 amp breaker, apparently weakened with age. He recommended upgrading the breaker to a 20 amp breaker, still safe. The motor runs fine once started. We switched to a different/spare 15 amp breaker and the pump starts and runs without a problem. Go figure. I'm having an electrician in soon to do avariety of work. We'll look into the electrical side of the pump at that time. The pump MAY need replacing in the future, just not right now, and I will continue to be vigilant in monitoring its performance. Its been more than a week and the pump is working fine.
Speedbump
Active Member
You would need a very speedy amp meter to capture starting amps, but that amount is not excessive. 5 times the running amps is what a motor usually pulls to start. A good breaker should have no problem putting up with that inrush current.
bob...
bob...
Speedbump
Active Member
I agree, I was never happy when I saw somebody replacing a blown fuse with the old fuse and gum wrappers. Just not a safe solution.
R
Rancher
Guest
My old Fluke handheld from the mid 70's has a peak hold switch, most digital meters also have a peak setting.speedbump said:
Rancher
Speedbump
Active Member
For amps or volts? I have not seen that feature on amps. I have it on my new Fluke for volts and it checks capacitance also, which is very handy for me.
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