3 phase submersible pump -- correct rotation?

[oscslane]

I have a 1 HP submersible pump that is 3 phase. The power supply cable was just replaced. I would like advice on how to determine the correct phase rotation without pulling the pump from a 600 foot deep well. Basically, does the motor draw more or less current when the phase rotation is correct? Does the pump motor draw the same current flow regardless of phase rotation?

 

[Valveman]

A three phase 1 HP is very rare. With three phase you have a 50/50 chance that it is running backwards. There may not be much difference in amperage, and it will pump some water and pressure running backwards. But there should be a measurable difference in flow and pressure between running backwards and forwards. It doesn’t hurt the pump to run backwards for a short time. So the best way is to run it one way, swap two wires and run it the other way, and see which way it pumps the most water and pressure.

 

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[hj]

The one problem I have encountered when a pump runs backwards is that the nut holding the impeller to the shaft can unscrew and then the impeller falls off. Probably not a factor with a multistage pump, which yours probably is. The amp draw should be considerably less rotating backwards because it will be moving very little water.

 

[Teets]

with a 3 phase you can swap wires in the controller to check flow, what kind of control panel is in the house.

 

[Craigpump]

Put an amp probe on the lines, they should all be pretty close in amp draw, if not, swap any two lines and check amp draw again.

 

[Kwolford]

I have a Weg 3 phase VFD/converter cfw-08 running a 3 phase Berkeley 2 hp and getting an error e05 which is the following description:

Is there a chance that the Weg is running the pump backwards since I’m getting very little water flow and this error?

 

[Reach4]

Is there a chance that the Weg is running the pump backwards since I’m getting very little water flow and this error?

That is what "swap any two lines" in #5 was about.