Connected 115v pump with 230v control box

[George Sz]

Hello,

I finally had my first well drilled and as all do-it-yourselfers eventually do, made a dumb mistake. I bought a Grundfos 10GPM 115v pump (3 wire +ground) and a control box from two separate online vendors, and the control box was a 230v control box (with the 1/2 hp rating that my well pump has). I only paid attention to the HP rating when I ordered the control box, as the model number is very similar for the two Grundfos 1/2 hp control boxes for the two voltages. In fact the model jnumber on the box is the same (SA-SPM5)

Amazingly, the pump ran from an inverter generator (120v) for over a half an hour as I was trying to flush the new well, with the pump sitting about 53 ft below ground. The capacitor on the control box finally blew after 35 minutes or so. I first though maybe I had the controller too far from the pump (about 100 FT using 12GA stranded wire), but today I realized I was using the wrong controller.

The question I have is - did I damage the pump by using the 230v control box? Was this supposed to work at all?

I ordered the correct control box today, but I wonder if I am likely to need another new pump as well when I go back to the well site in a few months.

Thanks,

George S

 

[Reach4]

The question I have is - did I damage the pump by using the 230v control box? Was this supposed to work at all?

I ordered the correct control box today, but I wonder if I am likely to need another new pump as well when I go back to the well site in a few months.

I predict the pump survived. Let's hope.

But then I am surprised that the capacitor popped.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Valveman]

The capacitor and relay are only for starting. But since you had a 230V relay on 115V supply the relay did not cut the capacitor out of the circuit, which caused it to pop. Pump should be fine.

 

[George Sz]

Thanks!! Did the motor run at a lower speed with the wrong control box? It seemed to be pumping really well while it worked.

 

[Reach4]

It would have been going the right speed.

 

[Valveman]

Thanks!! Did the motor run at a lower speed with the wrong control box? It seemed to be pumping really well while it worked.

It was stuck in start mode. Probably running a little too fast.