Odd voltage at well head

[Brillohesd]

A friend called asking advice on wiring a pump pressure switch. I told him the standard wiring of line voltage at 1 &4 and motor to 2&3. He called back saying it worked but the pipe that the switch screws to is split. He replaced the pipe, said the pump kicked on, off, on, and then quit working. I went over with my meter, the contacts were closed and at 1&4 it read 240 volts 2&3 240 volts. Above the wellhead (submerged pump), i read 240 hot to hot, but hot to ground was 40 volts on one and 80 on the other. The wire coming from the switch is 12 ga. solid, but the wire going down to the pump is 14 ga. stranded. My guess is broken wire down hole or bad pump. Am i correct in assuming this, or could it be something else? Im at my wits end.

 

[Valveman]

Overload tripped. Give it a minute or two.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

If you read 240 hot to hot, that is the measurement you want. I suspect that what you tried to use as a ground for metering was not a good ground.

Your assumption of broken wire down hole or bad pump is correct I think.

 

[Brillohesd]

If you read 240 hot to hot, that is the measurement you want. I suspect that what you tried to use as a ground for metering was not a good ground.

Your assumption of broken wire down hole or bad pump is correct I think.

He had a neighbor with a backhoe pull it for him, I went over, and yes a broken wire, where it had been “repaired” before. One wire was barely hanging on.

 

[Valveman]

He had a neighbor with a backhoe pull it for him, I went over, and yes a broken wire, where it had been “repaired” before. One wire was barely hanging on.

The only difference between the overload tripping and breaking a wire, is that the pump won't come back on by itself as it would if it just tripped the overload.

Broken wire in the well is caused by the pump cycling on and off too much. Some people add torque arrestors to limit the pump slapping the wire around in the well. But torque arrestors also add other problems like sticking the pump in the well. Best way to prevent all the problems that are caused by cycling the pump on and off is to add a Cycle Stop Valve.