Question on Sewage tank

About 12 months ago I had a septic system installed at my cabin in Virginia. For reasons known only to American Power it took over a year for them to run 220v to the cabin. This septic system is the two tank type with the floats and pump, where the second tank pumps the waste on the hillside through the lines. The system was never used and I recently noted it was full of water, in fact both tanks were full of water, it would have to be ground water. Getting to my question, since the pump, switch and floats obviously have been submerged for an unknown period of time, should it still work? Are those components waterproof? The reason I asked is after hooking it up to 110v the breaker keeps tripping. I was told that it didn't matter if it was all submerged, once I hooked the power up it would pump it down. Thank in advance for any help.

Possible the pump is 220?

I am pretty sure its a 110...I asked for a 110 since all I had was a old 110 line in at the cabin then. But not really sure

pump

The controls and everything should be waterproof if they are in the tank, but depending on the pump construction, if they are cast iron, they could have corroded and without periodic operation to "lap" the impellers they could have bonded to the pump body and cannot turn.

It is possible that the pump is 220v, but I wouldn't think that it is going to cause the breakers to trip! It sounds like water has gotten into the top cap or the motor housing of the pump causing it to go to ground. These pumps should be ok submerged as this is what they are designed for, but water could wick down through the cord of the pump ( if the cord has a cut in it or the ends of cord had been submerged ) and enter the top cap of the pump and cause this problem!

Just so you know, both tanks are supposed to be full, or nearly full. The pump will only take the water level down so far then shut off until the level gets up high enough to invert the float.

Having empty tanks in high water level areas is a bad idea. The tanks think they are big ships and try to float.

bob...

Would the fact that I tried to connect the power to a temp pole with a GFI have any bearing on it tripping the breaker? Since then I have permanetly installed power and have not tried it. I was concerned I might mess something up.

Now I know what the inspector said when he told the septic tank installer, he was concerned the tanks might float out of the ground like boats.

If the pumps have siezed from no use, it is possible that the breaker will trip, whether the pump is 115 or 230 Volts.

When a motor doesn't turn it draws a lot more amps that when it is turning. It is called the "Locked rotor current". The locked rotor condition on a 230 Volt motor is probably enough to trip the breaker even if it is 115 Volt power.

You really don't have a lot to lose by trying it one more time with permanent power. Give it a try. If it trips the breaker again the pump will have to be pulled to replace or repair.

bob...

thanks guys