My house was built in 1966 and has a well using a submersible pump. From day one the pump was simply wired with power going the pressure switch and then the switch wired to the pump. The few houses in the area that I was able to look are wired the same way. My understanding is that the controller saves some wear and tear on the pump. Is it worth installing one?

Assuming you are talking about something like this: Water Worker Digital Pressure Control for Well Systems-WWDPC - The Home Depot

I honestly don't know if it would be worth the investment. I'm not familiar with them. I don't see how it can go for a 10# differential rather than the usual 20# without doubling the pump cycles, and I wouldn't think that would be wise. I suppose some of the warnings would be nice as long as you check the box at least once a day, and I don't know of many people who do that.

Jlis--Thanks for the reply. That's kind of what I was referring to w/o the pressure adjustment. Generic picture attached. This is from a website "Well pumps with a control box have start and run circuits. During start-up, the well pump control will send power to the well pump through the start circuit. Once the well pump reaches operational speed, the control box switches the electrical feed to the run circuit.

Seems confusing-if power to the pump to reach operational speed isn't it then pumping? Been this long w/o a controller and seems to work OK. How are the well pumps wired in your area?

That's a different arrangement. Some sub pumps have the starter capacitor in the pump itself, while others have it located in a control box above ground. If yours is not above ground, then it is in the pump. That would rule out such a control box in your case. This pdf file gives you a little more info on page 4. The rest of the article is on well contamination, but page 4 will be helpful.

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wells/documents/pcb.pdf

J... good info on the link especially about the older pumps. I found the owners manual (which I had buried away) for the pump and the controller is used for three wire pumps. Mine is two wire and is wired correctly as the capacitor is in the pump as you stated. Thanks...

I don't have a controller on my pump, 170 ft down in the GA mountains. Basically it's for motors that don't have a start/ run circuit built in them. Mine is 13 years old and has never missed a beat.