Well pump bad?

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gulf0927

Member
Location
Lehigh Valley, PA
Customer's well pump is 220v, 2 wire. Keeps tripping the breaker. Disconnected the wires at the pressure switch, and I have continuity between both legs of the wire going down the pump itself. Kind of a no brainer question, but that means it may have to be replaced correct? For some reason the customer has no idea where the well pump access is, so I can only test at the pressure switch before a contractor comes in and starts digging.
 
gulf0927 said:
Customer's well pump is 220v, 2 wire. Keeps tripping the breaker. Disconnected the wires at the pressure switch, and I have continuity between both legs of the wire going down the pump itself. Kind of a no brainer question, but that means it may have to be replaced correct? For some reason the customer has no idea where the well pump access is, so I can only test at the pressure switch before a contractor comes in and starts digging.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you need to access the motor at very least.

Connect a locator to motor wires if you can't find where the well actually is, and trace them through the yard to find the right spot to dig.
 
gulf0927 said:
Customer's well pump is 220v, 2 wire. Keeps tripping the breaker. Disconnected the wires at the pressure switch, and I have continuity between both legs of the wire going down the pump itself. Kind of a no brainer question, but that means it may have to be replaced correct? For some reason the customer has no idea where the well pump access is, so I can only test at the pressure switch before a contractor comes in and starts digging.
Click to expand...

You should have continuity between both legs going to the pump through the motor windings. Do you have continuity to ground between both legs?

There's got to be a well head somewhere. Maybe buried in a bunch of weeds, or this time of year a pile of snow.
 
Suggestions
Meg the circuit
What is the motor amps when you start it?
Most likely a bad motor, but possible you have a bad splice where the drop cable to the motor is connected at the surface
 
tom baker said:
Suggestions
Meg the circuit
What is the motor amps when you start it?
Most likely a bad motor, but possible you have a bad splice where the drop cable to the motor is connected at the surface
Click to expand...

That usually means "open circuit", which won't be tripping a breaker.

Tripping breaker probably means high current from ground fault, short circuit, or possibly locked rotor condition in the motor.
 
Is it an immediate trip of the breaker, or after an hour or two?
is the pump rapid cycling?
whats the prechsrge in the pressure tank? Is the tank waterlogged?
what is the reading in ohms between the motor conductors?
What is the reading on ohms between each conductor and ground?
what is the amperage reading of the motor when it is running if it does at all?

you need to be able to answer ALL these questions before you come up with a diagnosis.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top