Starting a submersible that has not run for 5yrs.

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Gary O

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I’ve inherited a 200’ well with a Franklin 2hp submersible pump, pressure tank setup. Well/Pump is ~13yrs old, used very little, and has been out of service for ~5 yrs. I recently rewired to a 20A 240V service and plumbed it with 1.25” pipe. I Replace 2 bronze valves that were freeze cracked. Otherwise setup remains the same.

Is it OK to power up to check if the pump runs? OR do I risk doing damage to the pump without taking some pre-start actions before powering up? What procedure should I follow?
 

Valveman

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Technically you should check the voltage and ohm out the wire and motor. But you could also just open a valve somewhere, and throw the breaker on. It will either work or it won't. Sooner or later everything gets the smoke test. If nothing smokes you are probably OK. :)
 

Boycedrilling

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Gary

We are assuming that you have the control box that is needed for this pump. Do you have an ampmeter? Full load amps on this pump is 10 amps, service factor amps is 13.2.

By the way, the correct size breaker for this pump is a 25 amp breaker.
 

Gary O

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Technically you should check the voltage and ohm out the wire and motor. But you could also just open a valve somewhere, and throw the breaker on. It will either work or it won't. Sooner or later everything gets the smoke test. If nothing smokes you are probably OK. :)

Thanks to Valve Man.
Distance from cabin electric panel to pump is ~500’. Supply store “expert” advised me that #4 wire with 20A breaker would be adequate to supply surge power with acceptable voltage drop at 10A operating power at this distance. Next size up wire was a cost factor. I will test out the voltage during operation I intend to give it a try and look for smoke.
 

Gary O

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Thanks to Valve Man.
Distance from cabin electric panel to pump is ~500’. Supply store “expert” advised me that #4 wire with 20A breaker would be adequate to supply surge power with acceptable voltage drop at 10A operating power at this distance. Next size up wire was a cost factor. I will test out the voltage during operation I intend to give it a try and look for smoke.

I based my math on the same tech data for this franklin motor: 10A, 13.2A. Also I am using the original control box setup installed with pump by the well service installers 13yrs ago. All original equipment except for a couple freezes cracked valves that I replaced. 25A breakers sound good, but are they oversized for #4 wire? Guess I’ll find out if 20A breaker will work.
 

Reach4

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Supply store “expert” advised me that #4 wire with 20A breaker would be adequate to supply surge power with acceptable voltage drop at 10A operating power at this distance. Next size up wire was a cost factor.
#4 is more than big enough. #6 would have probably been fine, so you have margin. A 25 amp breaker would be typical to use with a 2 hp pump.
 

Valveman

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I am showing a 2HP needs a 30 amp breaker. Also yeah #6 wire is good to 970', and #8 is good to 620'. The problem with #4 will be getting it into the little lug in a 30 amp disconnect. They make special connector to crimp onto the wire that have small shafts sticking out to fit in the lugs.
 

Reach4

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I am showing a 2HP needs a 30 amp breaker.
I see my "MF1311 12-14" version of the AIM manual has a typo. It shows 30 amps for the 1.5 HP and 25 amps for the 2 HP, which is an obvious error.
 

Valveman

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Oh yeah and technically you don't want to oversize wire to a submersible. Using the longest length of the smallest wire possible will give you a 5% voltage drop, which will reduce starting current by 20% and 36% reduced torque. Not only will the wire be much less expensive, but people pay a lot of money for soft starters that don't work as well as small wire.
 
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