Pressure switch experiencing premature failure

[Dave17]

New pump and pressure switch three years ago, pressure switch was failing in July, no making good contact, replaced with a new one, lasted two weeks and experienced same failure, replaced again and after 1 week am experiencing the same failure ...contacts not mating properly, gonna put one more on tomorrow...any ideas why these would be failing so quickly? You can see that the mechanism has moved to the on position, but no solid contact is made. a little push with a stick and it kicks right in an does the job it was designed for

 

[Reach4]

How much current are you switching?

Is sand blowing into the pressure switch?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Boycedrilling]

What brand pressure switch are you buying?

 

[Ballvalve]

New pump and pressure switch three years ago, pressure switch was failing in July, no making good contact, replaced with a new one, lasted two weeks and experienced same failure, replaced again and after 1 week am experiencing the same failure ...contacts not mating properly, gonna put one more on tomorrow...any ideas why these would be failing so quickly? You can see that the mechanism has moved to the on position, but no solid contact is made. a little push with a stick and it kicks right in an does the job it was designed for

Using Chinese switches? Use Square D and make sure they are not clicking on and off every 5 seconds. And you can buy replacement contacts for them and leave the body in place.

 

[Valveman]

You could just have faulty switches, You could also have ants or bugs getting into the switch. but usually cycling the pump on and off too much is what burns up the points in a pressure switch. If your pump is rapid cycling the pressure switch is just the first indication of lot of problems to come.

 

[Dave17]

How much current are you switching?

Is sand blowing into the pressure switch?

Have not measure current, 1.5 hp pump, no sand blowing in. Have watched it activate and it appears contacts are bouncing and arcing.

 

[Reach4]

Have not measure current, 1.5 hp pump, no sand blowing in. Have watched it activate and it appears contacts are bouncing and arcing.

Can you show us a photo that includes the pressure switch and the input to the pressure tank?

 

[Dave17]

Using Chinese switches? Use Square D and make sure they are not clicking on and off every 5 seconds. And you can buy replacement contacts for them and leave the body in place.

Tank and well and pump are all in good shape. Used two Square D's then one Chinese and now back to Square D. Am going to modify spring assembly for more contact pressure when it closes. First presure swithc lasted 9 yeaers, then had new pump installe and Tech installed new pressure switch, it tran good for about two years, then contacts went bad, replaced with identical switch which lasted 3 weeks. REpalced again (Chinese) nd it worke great for aobut 5 days, then contacts acted up again. Cycling ok today. Bought new Square D an will install later, also have tww more coming with replacement contacts. Will play with modifying one with stronger pressure springs to eliminate contact bounce and arc

 

[Valveman]

There is no way you could have gotten so many faulty pressure switches. A faulty switch is rare. You must be cycling too much, running a larger pump than the contacts are designed for, have sediment in the lines, or something?