Need some help with Well Pump question

[quicksandfarmer]

Well it's not going to run if the circuit breaker is tripped. From your description it could be a faulty circuit breaker that is tripping too easily. It could also be the wrong type of circuit breaker. Electric motors use a lot more current to start than they do to run, and it's acceptable to draw more than the rated capacity for a short period while the motor starts. It should be a normal type and not GFCI or AFCI.

Those are things to look at, but my bet is you're going to end up pulling the pump. If you have electricity -- full voltage and enough current capacity -- at the well-head then the problem is in the well.

 

[Carl_NH]

Get a clamp on amprobe meter, replace the run capacitor, then get 240V to the pump and measure the current draw.

Your situation sounds like a high current draw is tripping the breaker and a bad run cap will do this.

 

[Egon]

You might as well pull the pump and check for whats wrong. It may be a downhole supply cable that is worn through and shorting out.

Does the tubing have centering clips, hold down and is the cable properly strapped to the tubing?

 

[Qapla]

Update ...

When we pulled the pump. it was bad. The motor was "frozen".

We replaced the pump with a 1 1/2 HP 20 GPM pump. That was about 3 weeks ago. It is not working again.

I checked the capacitors - they are both good. There is not much more in a controller that can go wrong. There are two "overload" switches that will trip. Before they trip, the pump does not seem to run - can't feel the vibration of it in the drop pipe and no water is coming out.

When checking the leads we found that we get OHM readings from Yellow to Red. From Yellow to Black but nothing from Black to Red. These readings were taken with the leads disconnected from the controller.

Thoughts?

 

[E/S]

You have a open circuit. The ohm reading between the two lowest pair should equal the reading for the third pair.
Example;
Red to black = 3.7 ohms
Black to yellow = 1.5 ohms
Red to yellow = 2.2 ohms.

E/S

 

[Qapla]

Could this be caused because one of the splices failed and is no longer connected down at the pump?

We used the splice kit with the heat shrink but I guess it is always possible that one could fail anyway.