I have a submersable well system. I keep having problems with the electronics part working awhile then not. If its working I hear a clicking sound coming from little black box mounted in well house. Most of the time I can turn fuse panel off and back on and it starts up again. This morning that doesn't work. It's a little too chilly to go to the creek now to wash. And I have tapped on control black box with no response. What is going on with this well? Landlord is a cheapass and refuses to have a pro look at it and says its my issue now. What do I need to do to fix this issue? I'm a city boy who just moved into the country and have very little knowledge of well systems. Help! Need shower soon. Thanks stinky

Does your control box look like this?(see image) Let me know. Tom

Yes it does.

Jessie, it's troubleshooting 101. You first need to see if you are getting power to the switch. It's not difficult, so long as you have even a cheap voltmeter and know how to use it. Is that the case?

I'm wondering that when you turn the breaker off and back on, that perhaps the breaker has actually tripped so that you are simply resetting it as opposed to turning it off/on. Get back to us with answers to the two questions you have so far on this board.

I had the same problem. It turned out to be damage to my buried cable going to the well. It would work fine for a few days, then short out. I replaced the cable... problem solved.

Yes getting power. Ouch. What a jolt. 220 really bites... still getting power even when its not working. There again ouch.. so I don't think its tripping breaker.. what next?

Take a plastic rod and manually close the contacts. Does that turn the pump on?Check the small tube that runs from the pump to the control b ox to be sure it's not clogged. Let me know, Tom

Sounds like you used a rather innovative voltmeter!

I think SB is on the right track. He wants to find out if the pump is working when the points close. You could also just turn on a faucet and let it run, then watch the switch with the cover off. When the pressure drops to the cut in point, the points should close. When they do, the pump should cut on. If it doesn't, and you are sure you have power, then you can check for voltage on the "other side" of the points. If the points are closed but there is no power going to the pump, then you can try filing the points with an emory board (power off!). If you still have no power to the pump, then replace the switch. And SB is REALLY right about checking the little pipe leading to the switch. They oftentimes get clogged with crud.

If you are getting power to the pump with the points closed, and yet the pump does not come on, then the problem is somewhere after the switch.

I'm still puzzled as to why resetting the breaker seems to reset the whole system. Speedball might have a little more insight on that area.