Generator and Well Pump

[Dusty Road]

I recently bought a house that is supplied by well water. I need to wire up my generator to run the well, and time does not permit a 'proper' installation. What I think I want to do is isolate the well from the house wiring at the switch, and power it with the generator. I'll use extension cords for the inside stuff. Here is the kicker- my well pump is a two-wire model. The way it's wired now is there are three wires running to the top of the switch (red-black-white) and two wires from the bottom of the switch to the pump (red and black). There is no neutral wire from the pump. The grounds are all present and connected. Can I do the same thing with my generator? I have the proper wiring and plug to do it, but I am concerned about running the generator with the neutral disconnected. Does the generator care?

We lucked out (here) with Gustav, but Ike is taking a creepily similar path to Katrina and the forecasts keep pushing it west everytime a new one comes out. When time does permit, I am going to wire in a transfer switch. Keep in mind that if I can wire the generator the way I described above, the generator power will be completely isolated from the house wiring. I appreciate the help!

 

[tommu56]

It sorta sounds like its 220v but you oughta check that out to make sure.

It won't meet code but you could wire a receiptical on the line and a plug on switch and pug it in to run off line and plug it in to extension cord for an emergency make sure the plugs are for the rated voltage and current

One time I got a extension cord rated for 220v 20 amps for an air conditioner and cut it in half wired the female in to line side of my neighbors well and the male in to his pressure switch and ran it to my generator between our houses

tommu

 

[Jimbrown]

The gen don't care.

 

[Dusty Road]

Thanks for the help. I was thinking that I'd do some sort of shut off and put a recepticle on the outside of the well shed for emergencies if I don't do the transfer switch soon. Cheaper and easier plus I can always run extension cords. Not the most elegant solution, but there are other places I want to spend my money.

And South Louisiana is now smack dab in the middle of the 'cone of uncertainty'. Well, it's gotta go somewhere.....

 

[schmism]

from your discription, i would guess its 220v. you can double check via the breaker that runs it.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I recently bought a house that is supplied by well water. I need to wire up my generator to run the well, and time does not permit a 'proper' installation. What I think I want to do is isolate the well from the house wiring at the switch, and power it with the generator. I'll use extension cords for the inside stuff. Here is the kicker- my well pump is a two-wire model. The way it's wired now is there are three wires running to the top of the switch (red-black-white) and two wires from the bottom of the switch to the pump (red and black). There is no neutral wire from the pump. The grounds are all present and connected. Can I do the same thing with my generator? I have the proper wiring and plug to do it, but I am concerned about running the generator with the neutral disconnected. Does the generator care?

We lucked out (here) with Gustav, but Ike is taking a creepily similar path to Katrina and the forecasts keep pushing it west everytime a new one comes out. When time does permit, I am going to wire in a transfer switch. Keep in mind that if I can wire the generator the way I described above, the generator power will be completely isolated from the house wiring. I appreciate the help!

This box your talking about, is it the pump starter? It may have a capacitor in it to start the motor then cut out when up to speed. Just a thought, be careful or find someone that knows what you have for sure.

Steve

 

[Dusty Road]

The box I'm talking about is the service disconnect. Just an on-off switch.

 

[Jimbrown]

Most two wire pumps do not use a control box.

 

[kennyd]

Dusty, please do not take this as an attack...BUT if you have to ask why there is no neutral to your 220v pump then I think you need to get help from someone who is more qualified.

These words that you wrote are a recipe for disaster in my opinion:

time does not permit a 'proper' installation.

 

[RonMar]

And the professional would be right, there should be a ground wire tagging along there somewhere along with the two hot wires like in the diagram jim brown posted.

Don't get neutral confused with ground. Although they are typically tied together, they are not the same. Your generator has two 120V windings in series. Measured from end to end you get 240VAC. The neutral wire runs to the middle where the two 120V windings join, and is the return wire for 120V from your generator. In summary, end wire to end wire = 240VAC. Either end wire to the neutral wire = 120VAC.

The 240 VAC load has no use for the neutral wire. The commercial power feeding your house is the same. Two hot wires, each connected to the ends of a center tapped 240V step down transformer out on the pole. This transformer provides 240VAC down from whatever the line voltage may be(thousands of volts?). This transformer has the same center tap as the generator does to which the neutral wire is connected. The neutral is connected to ground at several places for safety purposes.

Your generator Should be able to be wired into your well pump using the 240V receptacle on the generator. That receptical consists of 3 prongs. hot, hot and ground... You will need a compatible plug to wire this 240V power into your pump switch box. You should be able to then plug in your 120V loads using the 2(or more) 120V recepticals usually provided. Some generators have a 4 prong receptical which consists of hot, hot, neutral and ground. This type plug is designed to feed a 120/240 distribution panel, much the way that the commercial line feeds the main power panel in your home and provides for both 120 and 240V loads.

Be safe, this stuff kills people and burns down houses...

Good luck.