Franklin Pumptec pump protection system issue

[Eric Rathbun]

Because of a low yield well I am installing a trickle system with a holding tank. I got everything hooked up and went to start filling the holding tank and it started filling but when the water ran out the pumptec pump protector didn't sense an underload and shut the Franklin submersible pump off and just kept running. The way I have it set up is the power goes from the breaker (230v) to a limit switch on the holding tank to the pumptec pump protection system to the Franklin submersible pump in the well. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Valveman]

If you are using a valve to restrict the pumps flow, the pumptec cannot tell the difference in the amps when the well is dry. Without restricting the pumps flow there should be enough difference in amps at no flow for the pumptec to work. If you need to restrict the flow and still have dry well protection, you will need something like the Cycle Sensor which can tell the difference in amps at low flow and no flow.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Errin]

Similar issue where underload is not working. We pump 150' well into holding tank until well is dry, and then repeat after 30min.
Last week Pumptec standard detected overload, motor is not working.
Replaced Franklin 3/4hp 6A pump with different brand 1/2hp 4.5A pump.
The Pumptec standard protection system should turn it off when the load goes from 4.65A to 4.05 at 90% sensitivity, but it doesn’t.
Just wondering, is it possible that Pumptec sensor is faulty and it broke 9y old pump and now doing the same to the new pump.

 

[Valveman]

If the pumptec is not shutting off the new pump, it was probably the reason the old pump failed. 90% or 75% sensitivity, you can't really see what the pumptec is doing. I know you would like a Cycle Sensor better than the pumptec as it has a display that reads the amps and you can set the underload anywhere it needs to be.

 

[Errin]

Hi Valveman,
I bot a Pentec protector at local store. It calibrates for 10 seconds, turns off and then on.
The most sensitive setting is at 90% and it doesn't trip Underload.

I use a clam amp meter to read the load on one of the two 120v wires.

It reads 5.1Amp at the calibration, after 25min goes down to 3.9Amp.
Shouldn't it trip an underload at 4.59Amp (10% drop)?

 

[Valveman]

I don't know if you need to set it at 90% or 10%. But I would adjust the sensitivity until it goes off at the low amperage either way.