Well Pump Electrical Problem

   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #1  

N80

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Kubota L4400 4wd w/LA 703 FEL
I am asking this question on behalf of my daughter. She has heard me say so many times "I had a problem and went to the "tractor web site" and those guys told me how to fix it." So now she asks me to ask you guys to solve one for her. The problem is, I don't really have all the facts.

But here goes: She and her husband are in a new house way out in the middle of nowhere. They had it built. It is about two years old. It is mostly a nice house but the builder did some sketchy things and left a problem or two unsolved. The biggest problem is that the well pump trips its breaker fairly often. The well guy came out and could not find a problem. An electrician was sent by the builder. He did not speak any English and my daughter never felt like he really got the picture. This seems to happen randomly and without any common denominator except that it happens almost every time it rains.

The well head is in a covered building and stays completely dry. It is probably 20 yards from the house. The house is on a hybrid slab type thing (foundation wall filled and packed with earth. Slab poured on top of that.) Pump works fine most of the time but trips breaker 2-3 times a month and any time there is heavy rain.

So, that's all I know. I've asked. Any ideas much appreciated.

(And yes, my wife and I have recommended that they lean on the builder (who contracted the well digger) and take legal action if necessary. They have not wanted to do that, for obvious reasons, but unless there is an obvious and easy fix that someone (maybe you guys) comes up with that's the other option I know.
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #2  
short of throwing an amp meter on it, most people would be guessing. is the well new? lots of sediment?
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #3  
Deep well pump or a jet pump? Is the power cable in a conduit? staying dry? No joints in the cable that could be getting wet? Check the draw of the pump when it starts and check it against specs. Could you run a temporary power supply to the pump and see if that trips during rain?............Mike
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #4  
Some weres moisture is getting to the for the pump,
as mentioned a temporary power line from the house to the well head building.
That would eliminate the under ground run of wiring.
Are the pump controls, the pressure switch and motor stater in the house
or the well house.
Also after turning the breaker off pull the well cap and check the wiring there
for splices.
Also check the actual water level in the well, both in normal weather and after heavy rains.
Could be an splice only getting wet when a storm raises the level in the well (hope not,
as to me if so ground water is effecting the well and it should not be).
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #5  
I think that @LouNY makes some great suggestions. I certainly hope that there isn't ground water in the well, nor a splice that is getting flooded, but I have seen stranger things.

I would start by double checking that the pump in the well has the right size breaker on it for the HP/draw, and that the wire is of the appropriate size for the power (amps). While I was at it, I would check for water, or evidence of water, in the main service panel. I recently saw a problem where the contractor failed to have drain holes in conduit elbows and water was coming into a service panel through the conduit. (He also failed to seal the conduit.)

How high is the local water table, and how high is the water in the well, not raining, raining? (Hopefully different numbers!)

When it rains, with the well breaker off, and with the pump disconnected at the pump (there is a switch there, right?), I would check the resistance between the power wires and power wires to ground to check to see if the cable to the pump is nicked. (Shorted) I would then check the resistance on the pump wires (to each other and to a good ground).

If that passes, then as @mrmikey suggests, I would run a temporary power line to the well and see if it solves the problem.

All the best,

Peter
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks guys.

The well is over 400 feet deep. Rain should not affect it at all.

Not sure if the power cable is in conduit. It is buried of course.

I would assume the well guy and the electrician have matched the breaker and the pump specs but who knows these days.

I have a multitester but do not know how to use it other than checking my car batteries. So I'm not the man for the job. I don't think my son-in-law is up on electricity either.

However, I am going to put together a list of all the things you've mentioned and give it to them and see if they can get someone out to do a real diagnostic workup.

I am wondering if there is a splice in the buried cable that is getting wet. We've thought about that before but no one wants to dig it up. I suspect they're going to have to if none of these other things are causing it.
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #7  
Not familiar with this specific installation but for sure that pump should be alone on a circuit.
Pumps, and all motors, have a peak start power surge and that could just be the cause if some other item is running on the same circuit.
Kind of like the straw that broke the camels back.
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I think it is on its own circuit but I will check and make sure.
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #9  
The thing with sketchy builders is...anything is possible.

I wouldn't splice a buried wire ever. But that's me. I hate these sorts of shenanigans.

Good luck. By the sound of it, I would get a good electrician out there and worry about sticking the price to the builder later. Given the builder's track record, I wouldn't have a great deal of confidence that the fix to any sketchiness wouldn't also be sketchy.

All the best,

Peter
 
   / Well Pump Electrical Problem #10  
Thanks guys.

The well is over 400 feet deep. Rain should not affect it at all.
My SIL lives next to me,, and had a new well dug just prior to moving in, that was 2016.
The well guy had to drill 260 feet to hit adequate water,
but,,, the well fills to within 6 feet of the top.

Their neighbor had to dig to almost 400 feet, but, that well is artesian,,
it will run over the top of the well.
(That well required a cap that seals so that the water flow was forced to stop)

Anyways, depth of drilling has little to do with depth of water.

AND, around here the water table rises and falls occasionally, but, not with just a rain storm.

The best bet is to flash a few hundred dollar bills at a good local electrician,,
IMHO, that is what it will take to fix this well issue,,

I would not be able to rest with that problem,,
at a minimum, the pump could be destroyed,,, ($$$$)

at worst, someone could get a nasty shock, or worse!! o_O ($$$$$$)
 
 
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