Well Caught Fire

[bunyip]

Ants seem to find a way into everything even though it is sealed, antenna baluns are a favourite for them as you discover when you lose TV reception.

 

[ruffdog]

Kidde fire extinguisher recall:

Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall

 

[TractorGuy]

What where the likely consequences had you not been there?

Not sure really. The breaker was trying to trip and probably would have eventually. If it would have happened a week ago the tree beside the well would have gone up in flames for sure. We are just getting some rain after a several week drought so the tree was dripping wet.

 

[gary49]

It was your pressure switch that was on fire,not the well. Switch looks like it's outdoors, they're not rated for a wet location, I don't believe. It might help to get it out of the weather.

 

[TractorGuy]

It was your pressure switch that was on fire,not the well. Switch looks like it's outdoors, they're not rated for a wet location, I don't believe. It might help to get it out of the weather.

Duh! You're kidding right? How many un housed wells do you think in this world?

This is the third pressure switch in 45 years. The second was just changed because I put a higher rate pump in.

 

[Oaktree]

Duh! You're kidding right? How many un housed wells do you think in this world?

No need to be snarky. Seemed like a legit comment to me.

 

[coldsteelva]

It is a WATER well pump - how can it NOT be rated for wet locations? How about pool pumps?

 

[Diggin It]

Well pumps aren't generally left exposed to the weather. They're usually in some kind of housing to keep the rain and Sun off, even if no bigger than a dog house that can be lifted off.

 

[jaxs]

Ants seem to find a way into everything even though it is sealed, antenna baluns are a favourite for them as you discover when you lose TV reception.[/QUOTE

Great minds think alike. When I noticed OP's location,Fire ants were my first thought. Us Yanks wouldn't know what antenna baluns are but most that live near the gulf know fire ants mess with any thing electrical. Net net result is bad connection although root cause might be ants. Now that we have them stirred up,I have questions about down under ants that invade antenna baluns. Do they build larger mounds than most ants? If you lightly touch the mound,does the mound instantly explode with hundreds of mad ants. Although it's rare avoiding a swarm stinging before you can escape,if a single ant is on your skin,does it repeatedly sting rather than sting and run as most ants do? Those behaviors describe what we know along the Gulf as "Imported Fire Ants".

 

[CobyRupert]

So what burns?
You would think if it was loose terminations, insulation would melt and eventually the copper (or aluminum?) conductors, circuit would open and that would be that. No?

Would "drippings" be hot enough to ignite plastic cover?

Or did some critter get in there and slow roast until it combusted and ignited?