I'm VERY new at the subject of well water and all that goes into making it happen and need some advice. I'm house sitting for a friend and yesterday the water stopped working. She has a well system with a Franklin 280 107 49 control box, a pumptrol square d 30/50 pressure switch, a well-x-trol tank, and I have no idea what the pump is or the depth of the well. The pressure gauge reads 2psi though I don't know what it was before. Now the water wasn't decreasing in pressure over time, literally one minute it was working and 5 minutes later there was absolutely no water happening anywhere in the house and I wasn't running water and we didn't have a power out when it stopped. The only other info I have is when I took the cover off the pumptrol to see what was happening with the contacts, with the switch down (where it was when I started investigating) the contacts were open, but when I flick the switch to the up position the contacts immediately click back to the open position. I also checked the breaker and it wasn't flipped off either. This isn't my house and I'd love to get it working on my own before my friend comes home but like I said, I'm a total newbie with this stuff. Any help anyone could give would be greatly appreciated.

With the switch down (where it was when I started investigating) the contacts were open, but when I flick the switch to the up position the contacts immediately click back to the open position.

Did you mean to say the contacts were initially closed and then opened, or were they open the entire time?

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Originally Posted by jlisenbe

with the switch down (where it was when I started investigating) the contacts were open, but when I flick the switch to the up position the contacts immediately click back to the open position.

Did you mean to say the contacts were initially closed and then opened, or were they open the entire time?

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The contacts were initially open when I first looked at it (after the water stopped, I'd never even seen the thing before that), when I pushed the switch up the contacts connected at the half way up mark but when the switch got to the top the contacts clicked back open again.

If I was you, I would first want to see if I had power at the switch with a voltmeter. If I did, and the contacts were open with no pressure on the tank, I would suspect the switch. You can replace it rather easily IF you have some experience on the electrical side. If not, I would suggest you call in a well specialist to check it out. Wish I could be more help. The good news is that the Square D switch is not expensive.

IF I were you , to be on the safe side , I would call a plumber with well exp. You have a electrical problem with the switch it sounds like { if the points are burnt they don't work most of the time} they can be cleaned with sand paper, emmery board . Don't you try . Call that plumber. Be safe

It won't hurt to clean to contact points, but if they are not closing then it won't help any. The points must close for the pump to come on. But if you don't have some experience with the electrical side of things, then by all means call in a pro.