Hi. Trying to find out if there is an electric breaker type device which will cut power to pressure switch that operates water well pump . It is a submergible pump. Is there something that will cut off the power if the pump runs longer than the usual cut out pressure point.my water line freezes sometimes and I do not want the pump to continue running and burnout.for example normal pump runtime 1 minute, power shutdown after 1.5 or 2 minutes. Looking for something that needs to be reset after water line thaws and water is running again.thanks for any help.

I don't know how practical it would be but a PLC would do the job

A PLC can control a pump motor -- set to shutdown if needed

If yours is like mine, it is on a 20 amp breaker and draws 4-5 amps. Put in a fuseable disconnect with slow blow fuses sized to the running amps. The slow blow fuse should get you past the starting current.

There certainly is a product that should do what you want. It's a company that builds timers/relays that are programmable to do many things. Everything from low voltage to 240V. I have one of their products in my son's swimming pool to control the floor cleaner valves. I'll look and see if I can find their name and website and get back to you.

The simplest would be to use a On Delay time delay relay, such as this:

http://www.ssac.com/catalog/TDM01A01.pdf

This could be wired directly to the existing motor contactor in the control box.

Once the contactor is pulled in due to a call for pressure, the ON time delay sequence will be activated, and if allowed to time out, it will open a set of internal contacts, which then will remain open until a reset button is pushed to restore power to the contactor.

Since all you can do is rely on time, the time setting must be long enough to allow pressure to build, and not activate the timing sequence.

A PLC I believe is not practical for a homeowner, due to initial cost, and learning how to program, etc.

Any single phase submersible pump already has built in thermal protection, so that is covered. Any motor should have either an inverse time circuit breaker or time delay fuses for overcurrent and short circuit protection.

I will not recommend that you consider even my suggestion of a TDR.

I must recommend that the freeze condition be eliminated best as possible, for many obvious reasons. Allowing a sub-pump to run dry or with a blocked discharge will eventually damage the pump motor and seals.

What you are considering is a band-aid and will give you a false sense of security. All that will happen is to put off the inevitable, damage the pump.

You would need a timer relay to shut off your pressure contactor. It must be placed inline to the well pump after the pressure contactor. When Pressure in your holding tank drops the contactor closes sending voltage to the timer relay which should be set to approx 2min. This will send voltage to the well pump. Regardless if the contactor stays closed the well pump will stay on for 2 min fill up your tank and shut off. Now, if your lines are frozen and no water is supplied to the pressure tank the timer will not reset.It will shut down after 2 min. Only until the contactor opens up and closes will the timer reset.This will only happen if the lines are not frozen and the pressure tank fills up. This is a good idea. You might be on to developing a new product.You would need a timer relay with a 110vac coil and contacts with a rating of 220vac@10amps. 0 to 5min. I'm assuming your well pump is 220vac.

Suggest you talk to a well driller or a well equipment supplier. The "dry well switch" or protection device should give you the protection you desire. The condition to which you refer is "deadhead".
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Electronic Pump Protection for Single-phase Motors - Columns - National Driller

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Deadhead — where the discharge is blocked by ice or by some other constriction — can sometimes be difficult to detect, especially in submersible pumps with a flat pump curve. Although most pump protection devices protect for deadhead, there will be some applications, such as deep sets, where they may not without some tweaking. Most electronic dry-well pump protection devices on the market today have a sensitivity adjustment, sometimes hidden, that will allow them to respond to difficult dry-well and deadhead detection conditions. Ask your distributor for advice if you have a slow-producing well with a deep-set pump.

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Thread is from December 2007.

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