Well pump breaker tripped, sparked and tripped again when turned back on.
#1
04-17-12, 11:32 AM
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Well pump breaker tripped, sparked and tripped again when turned back on.
I noticed we had no pressure at the faucet so I checked the breaker, it was tripped. Flipped it back on and the pump came on for about a minute or so until the breaker tripped again. Went to turn the breaker back on but it sparked at me and immediately tripped again. I had been working in the crawl space all day,(opposite side of the pressure tank etc), so thought maybe I knocked something loose. I check the wire from the breaker box to the pressure switch all looked good, disconnected the pressure switch and checked breaker, it came on and didn't trip. I then moved to the line between the pressure switch and the control panel, that seemed fine. Not sure how to check the capacitor, everything was tight in the box. My question is, could a bad control box, capacitor etc. cause a short in the line causing the spark? Or could this be a bad connection at the pump itself? Thanks in advance for the help!
#2
04-17-12, 07:35 PM
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Hi and Welcome
Most of the time if a breaker trips that fast, its not good. High amps is what trips a breaker. A bad capacitor will cause it to draw high amps.
Turn the power off. I know it kicked the breaker, but make sure the breaker is all the way off.
You can check the capacitor by looking at the bottom of it where the wires are attached.
If it looks like it has been leaking oil, or corroded in any way, there is a good chance it is bad.
When you turn the power back on, make sure the breaker is plugged in the box good, and is making a good connection. There shouldn't be a spark.
Most of the time if a breaker trips that fast, its not good. High amps is what trips a breaker. A bad capacitor will cause it to draw high amps.
Turn the power off. I know it kicked the breaker, but make sure the breaker is all the way off.
You can check the capacitor by looking at the bottom of it where the wires are attached.
If it looks like it has been leaking oil, or corroded in any way, there is a good chance it is bad.
When you turn the power back on, make sure the breaker is plugged in the box good, and is making a good connection. There shouldn't be a spark.
#3
04-18-12, 12:34 PM
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Thanks for the tips... The bottom of the capacitor looks good, maybe a bit of a 'hot' smell but no sign of leaking or corrosion.
I tested for a short from the control box to the pump... The numbers I got seemed good and within the ohms posted on the control box. Checking for a ground fault assuming my meter was set correctly it wasn't infinite, but really high on all wires. I started to back track and checked from the control box to the pressure switch and got a reading... I'm not getting a reading at all from the pressure switch to the breaker (breakers off). Should I get something here?
I tested for a short from the control box to the pump... The numbers I got seemed good and within the ohms posted on the control box. Checking for a ground fault assuming my meter was set correctly it wasn't infinite, but really high on all wires. I started to back track and checked from the control box to the pressure switch and got a reading... I'm not getting a reading at all from the pressure switch to the breaker (breakers off). Should I get something here?
#4
04-18-12, 01:13 PM
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Might be different for a pump....but an A/C cap may not show any leakage or real corrosion...but if the top is bulged (should be flat) or if an oval case and the flat sides are bulged out....it's bad.
#5
04-18-12, 05:48 PM
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Went ahead and replaced the breaker (looked older then the rest) and the control box.... The breaker doesn't trip/spark and stays on but not pump. I have 240 all the way to the control box. Any help would be greatly appreciated, got to get this thing going! Thanks
#6
04-19-12, 08:41 PM
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Make a 100% sure that you put the wires back where they go. There should be a red, black, and yellow wires going to the pump. Those three have to go in the correct slot. The box should be marked.Line one and line two will go the pressure switch.
Also, how are you checking for 240v?
To make sure you are getting 240, using a volt meter, take the leads from the meter and go to line 1 and line 2 at the same time. If you do that and there is 240 going to the control box, it looks like it may be time for a new pump.
Also, how are you checking for 240v?
To make sure you are getting 240, using a volt meter, take the leads from the meter and go to line 1 and line 2 at the same time. If you do that and there is 240 going to the control box, it looks like it may be time for a new pump.
