JohnnyMalaria
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Hello,
A few days ago, our well pump began to behave erratically. We lost pressure for much of the day. After hours of diagnosing, I'm pretty sure that the motor is overheating or cutting out for some other reason. Here's what I've determined:
1. When the motor starts, it runs for about 30 seconds then turns off.
2. After 2 minutes, it comes back on and the cycle continues (on for 30s, off for 120s, on for 30s etc)
3. The pressure switch remains on at all times and there is always 240V across the motor terminals
4. If I have a faucet open, the two pressure tanks drain completely
5. Overnight, with all faucets closed, the tanks eventually fill up
The motor:
4" 0.5HP 2-wire 230V Franklin Electric (2445059004) - installed ~3 years ago as a replacement for the original
The resistances between the hot wires and ground are each ~1.5Mohm (well within Franklin's range for a pump in good condition). The winding resistance is ~4.5ohm (Franklin specify 4.2 to 5.2ohm to be considered acceptable).
However, the current is definitely out of specification. The motor is rated at 5.0A (SFA Max Amp = 6.0). When the motor starts, it draws 18A and, after a few seconds, it drops to 15A. 30 seconds later the motor cuts out, presumably due to overheating. Franklin suggest that a value of 3x to 5x the rated value is a likely sign of binding.
Other info:
The well is 300' deep. The casing is 6" diameter (is it common to have a 4" diameter pump/motor in a 6" casing?) The static water level is 25'. There are frequent surges of red clay (not sand). Is it possible that it has accumulated silt causing it to have to work harder?
If I pull the pump, what should I look for once it is out, particularly the mechanical parts of the pump and the motor? Are there any resources that describe how to service the pump/motor?
I have a window of "opportunity" to pull it in the next day or so but don't want to end up in a predicament. I won't be too popular indoors.
Oh, and up until November we had a virtually useless geothermal system that ran the pump almost continuously. Since replacing it with a conventional heat pump, the demands on the pump have reduced significantly (and the house is much warmer). Maybe the almost continuous running was helping keep the pump clear.
Thank you.
John.
A few days ago, our well pump began to behave erratically. We lost pressure for much of the day. After hours of diagnosing, I'm pretty sure that the motor is overheating or cutting out for some other reason. Here's what I've determined:
1. When the motor starts, it runs for about 30 seconds then turns off.
2. After 2 minutes, it comes back on and the cycle continues (on for 30s, off for 120s, on for 30s etc)
3. The pressure switch remains on at all times and there is always 240V across the motor terminals
4. If I have a faucet open, the two pressure tanks drain completely
5. Overnight, with all faucets closed, the tanks eventually fill up
The motor:
4" 0.5HP 2-wire 230V Franklin Electric (2445059004) - installed ~3 years ago as a replacement for the original
The resistances between the hot wires and ground are each ~1.5Mohm (well within Franklin's range for a pump in good condition). The winding resistance is ~4.5ohm (Franklin specify 4.2 to 5.2ohm to be considered acceptable).
However, the current is definitely out of specification. The motor is rated at 5.0A (SFA Max Amp = 6.0). When the motor starts, it draws 18A and, after a few seconds, it drops to 15A. 30 seconds later the motor cuts out, presumably due to overheating. Franklin suggest that a value of 3x to 5x the rated value is a likely sign of binding.
Other info:
The well is 300' deep. The casing is 6" diameter (is it common to have a 4" diameter pump/motor in a 6" casing?) The static water level is 25'. There are frequent surges of red clay (not sand). Is it possible that it has accumulated silt causing it to have to work harder?
If I pull the pump, what should I look for once it is out, particularly the mechanical parts of the pump and the motor? Are there any resources that describe how to service the pump/motor?
I have a window of "opportunity" to pull it in the next day or so but don't want to end up in a predicament. I won't be too popular indoors.
Oh, and up until November we had a virtually useless geothermal system that ran the pump almost continuously. Since replacing it with a conventional heat pump, the demands on the pump have reduced significantly (and the house is much warmer). Maybe the almost continuous running was helping keep the pump clear.
Thank you.
John.
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