Tom Sawyer
In the Trades
You will know when you get it out of the hole. Inspect the wires very closely from the pump to about 20 feet or so up.
You got the black poly pipe right!
I have heard this 7 year average several times in several other places but I don't believe it. I've been servicing and installing submersible pumps for over 30 years now and we keep pretty good records. I would say the average is closer to 15 years with many, including my own, having been down the hole for over 25 years. I'd like to hear from other pump tech's here and see what they think average life is.
You got the black poly pipe right!
Help me understand how the bad spot in a wire is causing the pump to thermally overload. Do you mean a nick in the insulation causing a current leak to ground, or a high-resistance section in the wire? I'm measuring 3.8M Ohms from each wire to ground, where ground means the plumbing at the pressure tank in the basement. As high as that is, I'd actually expect something closer to infinite resistance. Both wires measure the same.
I'd love to just have to replace 270 feet of wire rather than a pump. And I won't be paying $1.25 a foot this time.
Around here poly proliferates. We use these cable guides to keep the wire from chafing.
I didn't mean to imply that the pump cycles constantly with our normal interior use. With our two adult household, I don't think the pump cycles excessively. But when watering the way I have been, it definitely does.
Prior to a pull checking the amp draw on each wire would be very telling.
Should be around 6 if its 240V
It is 240V and 2-wire.
I have the current draw measurements. Each of the two wires measures pretty much the same. When the pump starts, AC current is just under 20A and drops to just under 16A by the time cut-off pressure is reached. Yikes!
I'm on borrowed time with that pump.
Cary, thanks for the reply and the response to my email. I haven't had a chance to respond to the email yet, but I will add a little info here.2.8 gallons of draw is more than you need with a CSV. But that tank should have 5-6 gallons of draw, so I think the tank is bad, and you won’t even have 2.8 gallons for very long. It is better to have a good 4.4 gallon tank with 1 gallon of draw, than to have that tank with a bad bladder that will waterlog completely fairly soon. If your pump still cycles on and off with the largest water zone being used, friction loss of any CSV will not be noticed.
This is awkward, but...
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