the only problem you will run in to is keeping every thing at the same potential, your GFCI will function your just in a situation where that circuit may or may not open in the event the motor becomes energized, you might be able to go out there and take that hot wire and touch it to the well motor and weld with it! lol. it will be cool to know the results!
See my post #20.
If you say "lower resistance" instead of "higher resistance" then I'll agree with you.
I would agree with that, thats why I feel the EGC is a critical component in this
I actually think it doesn't matter the condition it being higher or lower, its depends on the impedance characteristics of what ever it is being energized, high or low resistance, if that OCPD sees any difference in current its going to open, but I see your point, though sir,
It is in any compliant installation. The OP is asking about decreasing the hazard of an existing situation.
Reducing resistance increases current for a given voltage.
He said the service, so I believe there is a supply neutral. Let's ask:
I understand the concept, I was saying, if the circuit decides increase or decrease resistance, that OCPD is going to see a difference of current
And if there is, why isn’t it being used?
its got to be a split phase service, he's got 240 out there, the pig tail on the breaker should handle the electronics in there.
Yes. Standard 120/240 200A resi service at main structure. Neutral, GEC, bonding to metal piping, IBT, EGC to branches in house all verified. They could install a 2-pole GFCI and terminate the device neutral to the grounded terminal. The 240V branch circuit to the well is definitely 2-wire only.
Before purchasing a 2-pole GFCI it would be worthwhile to apply 120V on just one of the two pump leads and then measure any AC current that flows. I suggest using a clamp meter first to make sure that the current is relatively low, and if it is then you can apply the 120V through meter leads instead to get a more sensitive reading. If you get more than a milliamp or two then a GFCI is probably not going to work out. It's possible that when 240V is applied to run the pump that the leakages in both conductors could balance out somewhat due to their 180 degree phase relationship. But any increase in leakage on one side will upset the balance, and so such balancing can't be relied on.
www.acdcusa.com
Sorry, I meant "a proper EGC" and not an ECG (electrocardiogram).
I agree. The suggestion was to use an amp clamp first just to make sure that the current was much less than the meter's fuse rating. After confirming that the current is relatively low then the 120V would be applied instead through the meter leads in order to make an accurate current reading. Most meter fuses are good for 10A but I've seen some as low as 2A. These fuses are expensive and very fast acting to protect the meter's electronics. So I'm usually cautious when making a curent measurement through the meter leads, especially on an unknown circuit, to avoid possibly blowing the meter fuse.
If that's the case, then as Larry Fine has said numerous times, it will work and is actually the PREFERRED way of dealing with an ungrounded circuit. The 2 pole GFCI breaker MOUNTED IN THE SERVICE PANEL, only needs the neutral connection to power its own internal electronics. The GF detection is looking at the current going out on one line and coming back on the other one, so if they are not the same by 6mA or more, the breaker trips. Being a 2 pole breaker it is NOT measuring current flow on the neutral nor, contrary to popular opinion, is it monitoring anything on the ground wire. The breaker doesn't actually know if the current is actually going to ground or not, only that not all that goes out is coming back; it just ASSUMES it is going to ground because where else would it be going? So the lack of a neutral or ground wire in the circuit is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT to the GFCI breaker.
