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Submersible pump

I installed a new pump system. The well is 400' deep and I dropped a 1 horse 5 gpm 2 wire pump. When I plugged it in to a generator it took a few minutes to get pressure. And when I opened the boiler drain at well water was just trickling out then quit. Closed the drain and no pressure built up. Also the switch never did anything. I bypassed the switch and it did the same thing; very little water. Do u think the pump is too weak to pump that high?

2 wire? 120 volt pump? What depth is the pump rated 5gpm? 1 Hp @ 400 ft is pretty low especially if it is 120VAC

Brian,
Where do you get 120V?

1hp at 400' probably won't do it. You have to look at volume and pressure capabilities at that well depth.

What kind of generator? You can expect about a 20% power loss for a motor on a inverter type generator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ma0641

2 wire?? 120 volt pump? What depth is the pump rated 5gpm? 1 Hp @ 400 ft is pretty low especially if it is 120VAC

It's 230v pump rated for 500'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Brian,
Where do you get 120V?

1hp at 400' probably won't do it. You have to look at volume and pressure capabilities at that well depth

What kind of generator? You can expect about a 20%i power loss for a motor on a inverter type generator.

It's a Honda 3000 230. A friend of mine has a well that is 475' and he has 3/4 horse pump. Do u think that the pump is to weak because it will only pump 5 gpm.

Is the generator a Honda EU3000? Is the generator an inverter type generator?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Is the generator a Honda EU3000? Is the generator an inverter type generator?

Yes it is. It has me puzzled. I know everything is installed correct. The generator will kick in when u plug the pump in; then after a few minutes it idles back down. I have power to all four points on switch so I know connection is good at pump.

I don't know what the amperage of the Honda 3000 output is at 240 volts.
As stated earlier, expect a 20% loss of power of an electric motor when powered by an inverter type generator.
A regular generator runs at a specified speed to provide a 60 cycle AC type power. It must run at that speed to provide 6o cycle power. It must do that for a large amperage load or for a small load. It produces a regular sine wave type current.

An inverter generator can run at a slower rpm and provide 60 cycle AC power for a small load. It can do that because the generator creates AC power but not necessarily at 60 cycles. The AC power is then converted to DC power. The DC power is then converted back to AC and at 60 cycles. This is done electronically. Therefore the generator does not necessarily have to be running at a certain speed. The electronics create the 60 cycles.

However, the voltage and amperage is not a sine wave type current. It is a square wave type current. The electric motor needs a sine wave type power. The motor will run, but at reduced power.

Suggest you try powering pump with a different source. Either regular AC household current or a regular type generator, not an inverter type generator.

Of course the reduce water volume and pressure would be related to the capabilities of the well it self.

I would first try a different power source.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I don't know what the amperage of the Honda 3000 output is at 240 volts.
As stated earlier, expect a 20% loss of power of an electric motor when powered by an inverter type generator.
A regular generator runs at a specified speed to provide a 60 cycle AC type power. It must run at that speed to provide 6o cycle power. It must do that for a large amperage load or for a small load. It produces a regular sine wave type current.

An inverter generator can run at a slower rpm and provide 60 cycle AC power for a small load. It can do that because the generator creates AC power but not necessarily at 60 cycles. The AC power is then converted to DC power. The DC power is then converted back to AC and at 60 cycles. This is done electronically. Therefore the generator does not necessarily have to be running at a certain speed. The electronics create the 60 cycles.

However, the voltage and amperage is not a sine wave type current. It is a square wave type current. The electric motor needs a sine wave type power. The motor will run, but at reduced power.

Suggest you try powering pump with a different source. Either regular AC household current or a regular type generator, not an inverter type generator.

Of course the reduce water volume and pressure would be related to the capabilities of the well it self.
I would first try a different power source.

Ok thanks for the help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Brian,
Where do you get 120V?

1hp at 400' probably won't do it. You have to look at volume and pressure capabilities at that well depth.

What kind of generator? You can expect about a 20% power loss for a motor on a inverter type generator.

He said 2 wire. Didn't note voltage.

He said it was 230.