Need help with well pump project

[CliffordK]

Ok, here's a simplified wiring diagram:

TESTING SUBMERSIBLE PUMP CONTROL BOX

Black & Yellow are your main 220V leads.
Red is to the start capacitor.
Green is Ground.

With 220V, you don't really have a "neutral".

You would wire the pressure control switch BEFORE the motor controller box.

Anyway, a Motor Controller Box should be about $30 at your favorite building supply store for a 1 or 1.5HP pump or so. I certainly would just go get the proper equipment. Another $20 or so for the pressure switch.

What are you pumping the water to? Read about dead-heading pumps.

I really think the right pump for the project is a shallow well pump, and not a $500 submersible pump.

HF has a 1HP shallow well pump plus pressure switch plus small tank for $120.
Also, 1" Clear Water Gasoline Powered Pump for about $145, as well as 2" and 3" gas powered pumps.

 

[Larry Jones]

Is that because the motor will overheat trying to get up to speed? I am just trying to get the theory down to see how far Ican push and what I need to be careful on. It is a $500 pump motor and I would be bummed to kill it, but by the same standard, It is pumping 7 feet vertical and across a dirt road into a ravine. Maybe 20 feet total with 7 of it vertical.

The motor won't reach full speed and will draw an infinite amount of current because it is in a stall condition. There should be an automatic reset in the motor, plus the circuit breaker to the well that should prevent damage, but I don't think it is a good idea to continually overload the motor. Like others said, get a shallow well pump and sell the submersible

 

[woodlandfarms]

What I really need us a trash pump. Thanks for all the notes. Will pull some shelves today

 

[Iowachild]

What I really need us a trash pump. Thanks for all the notes. Will pull some shelves today

There are rentals places around here that rent gasoline engine powered trash pumps. Might be an option.

 

[CliffordK]

It is pumping 7 feet vertical and across a dirt road into a ravine. Maybe 20 feet total with 7 of it vertical.

Are you pumping uphill or downhill? Just planning on draining the pond?

Perhaps you just need to set up a siphon. You can certainly siphon with a 3/4" garden hose, perhaps even a larger hose. Just find one that doesn't easily collapse. Fill the hose with water either from the pond, or some other source, even your house water. Plug both ends until you get it into place, then open the ends and start your siphon.

 

[arlen4720]

You absolutely need the capacitor...The motor simply will not run without it. The capacitor creates a near 90 deg phase shift in the start windings...kind of creates a virtual phase. Without it the motor will have zero starting torque, and in fact if it were lucky enough to start, it could start in either direction.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am still trying to get into the panel, but this is only a 1/2HP well motor. Not sure if a cap would apply in this small applicaiton.

 

[arlen4720]

I am still trying to get into the panel, but this is only a 1/2HP well motor. Not sure if a cap would apply in this small applicaiton.

I guess that's what I'm trying to tell you...It doesn't matter how small the pump is, if it had a capacitor, then it won't run without it.