I was wondering if anyone had any input on the following situation. I received a service call regarding a swimming pool pump motor. The pool was installed earlier this summer,has been used regularly, everything has run fine. It has a 2 hp. rated motor running off a 20 amp circuit with a Qo gfci breaker in the panel. The length of the circuit looks to be about 100 feet. Recently it has been running for about 20 minutes before the breaker will trip. Possible voltage drop issue? Gfci breaker problem ? Anyone have any thoughts ?
swimming pool service call
- Thread starter bob j
- Start date
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LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Try this as a temporary experiment:
Replace the GFCI breaker with a standard one, and wire in a GFCI breaker (the same one would be even more telling) in a small 2-ckt enclosure at the motor.
Even easier, or first, use a clamp-on ammeter at the breaker and see if the current is higher than it should be. The odd are that it's moisture infiltration, though.
Replace the GFCI breaker with a standard one, and wire in a GFCI breaker (the same one would be even more telling) in a small 2-ckt enclosure at the motor.
Even easier, or first, use a clamp-on ammeter at the breaker and see if the current is higher than it should be. The odd are that it's moisture infiltration, though.
Bob NH
Senior Member
- Location
- The "Live Free or Die" State
Centrifugal pumps draw more current when they pump more water. If there is something that is causing it to pump more water (added nozzles, nozzle of the pipe allowing more flow) or an impeller on a plastic pump that is dragging, it will cause more current to be drawn.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
What steps have you taken so far?
What is the size of the conductor feeding the motor?
What is the size of the conductor feeding the motor?
swimming pool prt 2
swimming pool prt 2
swimming pool prt 2
Mr. Fine , you're living up to your name.Checked out this call on Friday 9/19-diagnosis-small nick in the conductor insulation with a side of moisture infiltration.The motor was rated 2 hp. 15 amp 115 volts. Voltage drop was no issue, at the motor I had 120 volts. Amperage was consistently around 13.5 amps. Originally I suspected the gfi breaker , and replaced it with a regular 20 amp for test purposes- it held all day long. Not enough to trip a regular breaker, but enough current bled off to trip a gfi.Thanks for the insight.:smile:LarryFine said:
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I megohm meter would have found this in about 2 minutes flat. Pool pumps, fountain pumps, and pumps of any sort; break out the megger.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Actually, it pushes a pretty big voltage. Check neutral to ground and hot to ground (or each hot to ground, if 240). Chances are that would have showed something right away, and saved you hours of troubleshooting.bob j said:
I guess I've been recommending the Supco M-500 and the Extech 380260 for dirt simple, cheap megohm meters for troubleshooting type testing. They each around 100 bucks.
TOOL_5150
Senior Member
- Location
- bay area, ca
mdshunk said:
Hey Marc, I have the 380260, and was wondering what readings would be questionable or 'no go' on say a wire or a motor windong? All the wire pulls I have done go to infinity, but would like to know when I should classify something as not good any more.
~Matt
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