CHOLLA BOB
New Member
Well water stopped pumping four days ago and I found the well 240 2-pole 20-20 breaker off. Breaker turned off slowly after repeated tries. Replaced with new 240 2 pole 20-20 which shut off, but faster.
Electrician came out and found no short in 100 foot underground line. Checked all connections. Found multi-meter audio continuity in three pump motor lines at relay box. He turned on the breaker, water flowed into pressure tank and the water ran. Next morning water and breaker off.
When I diagnosed, I had the line disconnected from well house and breaker would stay on for an hour then shut off. The underground well electric goes out the breaker box 10-2 UF with ground and comes into well house as a 3-wire submersible line. I was convinced that it was an underground line short as ground is snow melt wet with a spliced, old line sometimes only two inches under the ground.
I had found 11.5 to 15 ohms resistance in the motor lines, but also the audio continuity indicating a pump short, which confused the electrician and myself. I wonder if the pump is working against a hard water buildup, overheating, and shutting off breaker.
The electrician suggested to get a 240 2 pole 30-30 breaker. The present 20-20 breaker takes a few tries to set-it's hair triggered. Will the 30-30 breaker put more stress on an existing problem or on pump motor? Or is it worth a try?
For a Franklin Electric 230 volts HP 1 relay, what should the capacitor and relay read on the multimeter?
I can get water now by running well pump till breaker shuts off (seems to be around 50 psi at shutoff).
Appreciate any help!
Electrician came out and found no short in 100 foot underground line. Checked all connections. Found multi-meter audio continuity in three pump motor lines at relay box. He turned on the breaker, water flowed into pressure tank and the water ran. Next morning water and breaker off.
When I diagnosed, I had the line disconnected from well house and breaker would stay on for an hour then shut off. The underground well electric goes out the breaker box 10-2 UF with ground and comes into well house as a 3-wire submersible line. I was convinced that it was an underground line short as ground is snow melt wet with a spliced, old line sometimes only two inches under the ground.
I had found 11.5 to 15 ohms resistance in the motor lines, but also the audio continuity indicating a pump short, which confused the electrician and myself. I wonder if the pump is working against a hard water buildup, overheating, and shutting off breaker.
The electrician suggested to get a 240 2 pole 30-30 breaker. The present 20-20 breaker takes a few tries to set-it's hair triggered. Will the 30-30 breaker put more stress on an existing problem or on pump motor? Or is it worth a try?
For a Franklin Electric 230 volts HP 1 relay, what should the capacitor and relay read on the multimeter?
I can get water now by running well pump till breaker shuts off (seems to be around 50 psi at shutoff).
Appreciate any help!
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