Generator on my Well Pump

[JD435Bill]

With the damaging Wind Storm we had recently, I am thinking again about having a Gasoline Powered Generator for my Well Pump to use when the power goes out. I have a Pump House over my well and it can conveniently cover and store the generator (I will run it at the doorway with the exhaust facing outward). My weakness is electrical. Although I will probably hire a professional to connect it for me, I'm trying to learn all I can about it in the meantime. Anyone out there have one on their well?

Any info would be appreciated.

Bill

 

[KTurner]

What can you tell us about your well's existing wiring? For example, my shallow well jet pump simply plugs into a 120v receptacle that is in the well house. Hooking to a generator would be as simple as unplugging from the receptacle and plugging into the receptacle on the generator.

Keith

 

[chucko]

I had hooked a 6kw one to run mine after hurricane charlie. Killed the main and hooked it right to where the 220 went to the pressure switch of the well. The main became the disconnect to the power co and the well wire back fed my power box allowing me to run my fridge and some lights. I unhooked it all before turning the main back on

 

[JD435Bill]

Mine is directly wired in. It is just regular household current. Believe it is 14-2 w/ground , possibly 12-2 w/ground. I could actually verify that. I can picture having some kind of switch box to convert it from one to the other, but not really sure which would be the best way. My well is about 165 Ft Deep. I believe I have water at 125 Ft. I can also check on the type of pump I have, as I have the paperwork on it in storage. I am also going to need to know how big of a generator I will be needing.

Bill

 

[JD435Bill]

chucko,

My well pump is out in the field a ways from the house. I believe in my case it would be better to have one right at the pump house. It is also just regular 110 current.

Bill

 

[cqaigy2]

I have two pumps, submersible at 350' that pumps into a reservoir and another that sits in the reservoir to provide pressure. Both run at 220volt. I have a main panel at the shop and a sub panel in the well house. In a pinch i could trip the 50 amp breaker at the shop panel that feeds the well house sub panel. Then at the well house i could disconnect the main breaker that is fed from the shop and pull the wires out and wire in a 10 or 12 gauge "extension cord" with a connector that i can plug into my generator 220v plug.

What i have though, is a transfer switch at my shop and outlet i can plug my generator into. I throw all the breakers to the off position, start the generator and when it's warmed up i turn on the load i need. I know what is on each circuit and try to to keep at or below the 100% duty cycle of the generator.

Check your pump for sure but mine is 1.5 hp 220 volt and can be run by a 2k generator, when it's the only load.

 

[JD435Bill]

I just checked out the Pump info and it looks like it is a 220. I told y'all electricity is my weakness, lol.

The sticker reads:

-Jacuzzi Pump
-Volts 230
-Amps 5.0
-HP 1/2

Bill

 

[JD435Bill]

cqaigy2, it looks like I can get away with a smaller generator than I first thought. How small can I go with the 1/2 HP Pump I have. Other than maybe a droplight once in a while, the Pump will be the only thing that I will be using.

Bill

 

[rekees4300]

Okay then you will need a generator with a 220 plugin. Just have the electrician install a 220 receptical in the pump house into which you would normal plug in the pump. When the juice goes out simply unplug the pump from the receptical and plug it into the the generator and you're good to go. Ask the electrician how big of a generator you need to run the pump.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

You're going to need a larger genny than you think. Motor is going to take 2-3X the running current to get started. Your genny would need to be able to supply that starting current for several sec then the pump will drop back to running current.

At the last house I had a 1HP pump on the well and a time or two during power outage I hooked up the genny from my RV. Its a 4kW genny and it would strain to get the pump running. No problem running after starting which is a couple sec.

Any breaker box out at the well house? If not and that is where you want to make the connection, you could add one. Could be wired so when breaker box is open, an extension cord could be used between the pump and the genny. There are receptacles and extension cords made for this purpose. Cord and receptacle are made so when not in use, there are no exposed contacts to touch and get bit.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I just checked out the Pump info and it looks like it is a 220. I told y'all electricity is my weakness, lol.

The sticker reads:

-Jacuzzi Pump
-Volts 230
-Amps 5.0
-HP 1/2

Bill

in general... almost every generator with a 220 plug should be large enough to power this little pump. 5a at 230a and if you allow for startup draw then as long as the genny has a 220 volt capacity of 10a you are good to go.

I personally have never seen a genny with 220 volt capacity with less than 15a capacity so even the smallest should do. Just check to make sure the 220v outlet has >10amps marked on it.

 

[JD435Bill]

Okay then you will need a generator with a 220 plugin. Just have the electrician install a 220 receptical in the pump house into which you would normal plug in the pump. When the juice goes out simply unplug the pump from the receptical and plug it into the the generator and you're good to go.

Sounds like a good idea. I can have my system now converted to a plug and a receptacle and then just connect it as you have mentioned.

Bill

 

[JD435Bill]

Mickey_Fx, I was first thinking about a 5000. No, no breaker box in the pump house. It is just directly wired in from the house.

Bill

 

[JD435Bill]

in general... almost every generator with a 220 plug should be large enough to power this little pump. 5a at 230a and if you allow for startup draw then as long as the genny has a 220 volt capacity of 10a you are good to go.

I personally have never seen a genny with 220 volt capacity with less than 15a capacity so even the smallest should do. Just check to make sure the 220v outlet has >10amps marked on it.

Sounds pretty good. I'll be going generator shopping soon.

Appreciate all the replies.

Bill

 

[rekees4300]

I got a 6500kw generator from TSC for $599, that was a few years ago. It has 220 outlet and 4 120 outlets. Anyway you should be able to do the project for < $1000. I'd guesstimate $500 for generator and $200-$300 for electrician.

 

[JD435Bill]

I checked around a little. Just wondering if this one would be big enough for my little 1/2 HP Pump?

Generators | Portable Generators | All Power America APG3002D 3500 Watts 6.5HP Generator | 249656 - GlobalIndustrial.com

 

[rekees4300]

That should be big enough but I wouldn't buy one online since the shipping is $90 and returning it could be a problem. Also like boakley said you need to verify that the 220 outlet has at least 10 amps. Can't tell that from the pictures.

 

[JD435Bill]

I'll check around town. I was looking for the Amps Rating, but couldn't find them anywhere. I'll check with the manufacturer if necessary.

Thanks

Bill

 

[Carl_NH]

Bill - Amps x Volts = Watts so a 6000W rated generator is 25 AMPS (240Vx25A=6000W) If it is rated at 6000W then it probably has a surge rating of 7100-7200 or in that area.

For practical purposes I would not just get one for the well, but wire it into your house panel with selected circuits to run (Fridge, Well Pump, Furnace and some select light circuits). You won't spend a lot more but if yoiu are going the generator route, then I would get at least a 7000W running 8250 surge and electric start and wire it into your house panel.

Total cost for this type setup will be about $800 generator, $300 transfer switch, $3-500 for installation but this is a solution for your "necessary circuits" and hard wired so you start it and hit a few switches and you have 50-60% of the house needs covered.

If you are set on just getting one for your well pump, fine, then a 4000W unit with a 240V plug ((14.5 Amps) will work just fine. The other thing, generators can run 24/7 - your well pump "on demand" based on pressure and demand. So if you want to use the water and generator then turn it off this will work fine.

I would opt for a more "scaled" system that serves your house than a point solution for your well. Just my 2C. BTW - you have many box stores locally - Lowes and HD but given your situation there they may be out of generators - I would not buy one on line - shipping is a big cost for these units.

Carl

 

[Clint S]

I have a 5k continuous 8250 start up
Storm Responder 5500 Watt Generator Non CA- Briggs & Stratton-Lawn & Garden-Generators-Portable Generators
It will run my pump (220 submersible) with no problem at all. I have a heavy duty main service disconnect and plug it into the welder plug in the garage (keeping the genny outside). I pick and choose what I want to run via the breaker panel. It can handle the pump, boiler and a few lights at the same time so I can take a hot shower if I want