Sizing Generator for Submersible Well Pump

EdwardB · May 16, 2014

Well, I finally got everything wired up. Fired up the generator, flipped all the breakers off, flipped off the main, engaged the interlock, flipped the generator breaker on, flipped ONLY the well breaker on, ran the water to take down the pressure tank. Drumroll....... Success! The generator certainly felt the well kick on but did not die, blow its breaker or drop voltage!

SPYDERLK · May 16, 2014

buickanddeere said:
There is something odd going on with that 30amp breaker. There is no way a working 30amp breaker won't trip starting a well pump of that size. With just a standard across the line starter.
That breaker is likely failed internally and is offering no protection. The main electrical service breaker maybe the only short circuit protection to the pump.
It's cheap insurance to obtain and install a new 70amp breaker that works.
I snagged a new Franklin VFD box cheap on ebay for my well pump but alas. The box is for a three wire pump and the cheapskate that installed the well used a two wire pump.

Sure there is. Very hi short term overloads can be supported by a breaker. My Kellogg American 5HP compressor pulls 120A for a fraction of a second as it starts. The 30A breaker never pops.
larry

daybreak1998 · May 18, 2014

EdwardB said:
Well, I finally got everything wired up. Fired up the generator, flipped all the breakers off, flipped off the main, engaged the interlock, flipped the generator breaker on, flipped ONLY the well breaker on, ran the water to take down the pressure tank. Drumroll....... Success! The generator certainly felt the well kick on but did not die, blow its breaker or drop voltage!

Howdy,
I am glad that the system with the control box helps it do a soft start. It makes it so you can use a generator without going way big. So, what generator has you decided on?
7,500watt with like 9,000 starting watts? either way, I am glad you have it up and running. congrats