Ask Me Help Desk - Pumptrol? Help please

Hello there. I'm completely new to pumps and plumbing, so please bare with me.

My family owns a water pump business. We fill 5gallon jugs and such. Recently, our machines don't vend water consistently anymore. The pressure would drop and we'd have to manually work the machine to regain psi to pump water for our customers.
I think the problem is with the pumptrop square d, type fsg22. I'm not quite sure how it works though.

This unit has an air valve that's connected to a pump and a gauge. Currently, the gauge reads 0 psi. and the pumptrol's contacts are closed.

Before when everything was fine, the gauge would read 20psi, and every time the psi drops below 20psi, the pumptrol's contacts would connect and cause the pressure to rise to about 40psi. After running awhile, the contacts would disconnect.

So now the contacts are just closed and nothing happens... it doesn't run anymore, nothing pumps.
Could the air valve be clogged? Could the pumptrol be broken?

Please help me with this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

A "F" type Square "D" Pumptrol, (see image) is a standard pressure control for most pumps. It works like this. Contacts closed= pump running. Contacts open= Pump shut down. As the pump builds up pressure it actuates the contacts through a small tube according to the Pumptrol setting, 20/40, 30/50 etc.. This means the contacts will close and energize the pump when the pressure drops under the lower number. As the pump reaches the upper number the pressure will open the contacts shutting down the pump.

"so now the contacts are just closed and nothing happens...it doesn't run anymore, nothing pumps.
could the air valve be clogged? could the pumptrol be broken?"

If the contacts are closed the control box is calling for the pump to turn on.
You need a pump man to check to see if the control box is getting electricity from the breaker box. If there's electricity feeding the control box then either the contacta are dirty and not making good contact or the problem's in the pump motor itself.
But first make very sure that the pressure control is getting power to it.
Good luck and let me know how you make out. Tom

Thank you tom! I'll look into this right away

I tried using a volt meter on the pumptrol and it's completely dead. The breaker box does have electricity. I'm going to try to swap out the pumptrol soon. Thanks again

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiguy08

hello there. i'm completely new to pumps and plumbing, so please bare with me.

my family owns a water pump business. we fill 5gallon jugs and such. recently, our machines don't vend water consistently anymore. the pressure would drop and we'd have to manually work the machine to regain psi to pump water for our customers.
i think the problem is with the pumptrop square d, type fsg22. i'm not quite sure how it works though.

this unit has an air valve that's connected to a pump and a gauge. currently, the gauge reads 0 psi. and the pumptrol's contacts are closed.

before when everything was fine, the gauge would read 20psi, and everytime the psi drops below 20psi, the pumptrol's contacts would connect and cause the pressure to rise to about 40psi. after running awhile, the contacts would disconnect.

so now the contacts are just closed and nothing happens...it doesn't run anymore, nothing pumps.
could the air valve be clogged? could the pumptrol be broken?

please help me with this. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks for your time.

You said contact close and nothing happen, is there volt from load to ground or line to ground... before swap it out make sure there is volt to ground... it could sensor port clog up or contact is dirty... if you get volt coming to the controller, jump it out( with a switch) and hook up you tester to the controller for make and break test ( at 20/ 40#)... if there is no power to the controller swap it out won't help... does controller control the pump directly or there is a relay between pump and controler

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiguy08

i tried using a volt meter on the pumptrol and it's completely dead. the breaker box does have electricity. i'm gonna try to swap out the pumptrol soon. thanks again

Do you have voltage coming into the control box from the breaker box?
If so check for dirty contacts or change out the control box.

The question was asked, "does controller controll the pump directly or there is a relay between pump and controler?"

There is no relay between the Pumptrol and the pump. It's a direct hookup controlled by the posution of the contacts.
Regargs, Tom