Time for this week's "Country living questions with Phylo"....

[Cameramonkey]

Oh, and with the breaker OUT of the panel, you can do continuity tests on the contacts on the back of the now disconnected breaker to see if both breakers are delivering power.

 

[Clay Pigeon]

What you described is safe.

If it were me:
pop the cover.
Kill the main.
CAREFULLY remove the suspect breaker
Turn power back on so you have power elsewhere. You will have no water at this time.
take the bad breaker to match the type at the hardware store. (pay attention to not only size and type, but connectors on back that connect to the bus. There are several types out there)
Get home, kill main.
Insert new breaker
Power mains back on.
You should have 220 at the pump; measure per the advice above.

(and if its not a bad breaker, return the new breaker)

Just pray you dont have a weird out of date breaker style. I had a weird one in my house built in '81. They stopped making them, and it would have cost almost as much for a used replacement than to replace the entire panel. Luckily a buddy at work helped me replace the whole panel for about $120 in parts.

If it was me, I would turn the panel main off before I took the cover off the breaker panel. But live large if you feel the need.
Looks like a Square D double pole 20 amp breaker, available everywhere breakers are sold.

 

[Cameramonkey]

If it was me, I would turn the panel main off before I took the cover off the breaker panel. But live large if you feel the need.
Looks like a Square D double pole 20 amp breaker, available everywhere breakers are sold.

Its all about comfort level. To each their own. I wouldnt fault anyone for doing what you suggest. It cant hurt anyway...

 

[Clay Pigeon]

Its all about comfort level. To each their own. I wouldnt fault anyone for doing what you suggest. It cant hurt anyway...

Actually, Its about working safe. But i'm just a guy that passed the Union Elevator Journeymen's Test, What would I know about electricity and control systems.
I bow to you and the vast knowledge you possess.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Actually, Its about working safe. But i'm just a guy that passed the Union Elevator Journeymen's Test, What would I know about electricity and control systems.
I bow to you and the vast knowledge you possess.

Dude! No need to be an ass about it. I never claimed it was the safest option. In fact, the safest option is actually the yellow pages, so you lose too! [INSERT COMMENT THAT WOULD GET ME A TIME OUT HERE]
Good day sir!

 

[actaeon277]

Dude! No need to be an ass about it. I never claimed it was the safest option. In fact, the safest option is actually the yellow pages, so you lose too! [INSERT COMMENT THAT WOULD GET ME A TIME OUT HERE]
Good day sir!

Well, I got slammed cause apparently I don't meet his level of expertise either.
I guess I'm supposed to memorize the 5 or 6 different PLC systems I have, the thousands of sensor types, dozens of sensor manufacturers, and dozens of control valve systems I have to work on tucked away in my brain, to retrieve on command.

 

[Clay Pigeon]

Dude! No need to be an ass about it. I never claimed it was the safest option. In fact, the safest option is actually the yellow pages, so you lose too! [INSERT COMMENT THAT WOULD GET ME A TIME OUT HERE]
Good day sir!

Ass? I'm not the one thats angry..
Hey, you know the safe value, I bowed to you. The con is yours Master Chief. Like I said, I just have that worthless Journeymans card, the one I spend a few nights a week going to school for over four years. And the one that was used to pass hundreds of newly installed elevator installation inspections across this country and in certain states pass electric inspections over more than a 20+ year time frame. So yes, I have a pretty good grasp of how work safely with simple wiring and circuits.
Thats one of the problems with people that give their layman's opinion that easily could get someone hurt thats unknowing.
Working with Hot Amperage does hurt and kill people. There is No Laxadasial when working around or with Amperage.

 

[Clay Pigeon]

Well, I got slammed cause apparently I don't meet his level of expertise either.
I guess I'm supposed to memorize the 5 or 6 different PLC systems I have, the thousands of sensor types, dozens of sensor manufacturers, and dozens of control valve systems I have to work on tucked away in my brain, to retrieve on command.

But yet, a simple 240v.................. A simple well pump circuit beat you up, not me. You two pro's can have the Con.. enjoy.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Somebody underestimates Phylo's intelligence and understanding of what exactly is underneath that sheet metal that covers the breakers.

 

[Rookie]

I'm off work today. I can head that way and show you how to change it out.

 

[phylodog]

I'm off work today. I can head that way and show you how to change it out.

I wish I was off today! I appreciate the offer but I think I've got a handle on it, I'm going to try to pick up a new breaker on my lunch break and switch it out when I get home. If I run in to any problems I'll holler.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

My own well pump has been running for quite a few years without a hiccup or problem.

I should probably go down in the crawlspace and give it a hug and tell it how much I appreciate it's service.

 

[phylodog]

I got home, took the cover off of the breaker box and the line to the pressure switch is hooked up to 120v in the box. I was really hoping I had a 220v pump running on 120v and would see an increase in water pressure by fixing the breaker.

I guess they used a two pole breaker knowing they put a POS pump in and the breaker would come in handy when the pump goes out an I have to buy a new one.

 

[actaeon277]

I got home, took the cover off of the breaker box and the line to the pressure switch is hooked up to 120v in the box. I was really hoping I had a 220v pump running on 120v and would see an increase in water pressure by fixing the breaker.

I guess they used a two pole breaker knowing they put a POS pump in and the breaker would come in handy when the pump goes out an I have to buy a new one.

Maybe they had a 220, and replaced it with a 120. And then just wired it up at the circuit breaker box.
Maybe contact the previous owner, or real estate agent to contact them, and ask?

 

[actaeon277]

I got home, took the cover off of the breaker box and the line to the pressure switch is hooked up to 120v in the box. I was really hoping I had a 220v pump running on 120v and would see an increase in water pressure by fixing the breaker.

I guess they used a two pole breaker knowing they put a POS pump in and the breaker would come in handy when the pump goes out an I have to buy a new one.

Pressure will be affected by lines that are too small, or a leak, or the pressure you set with the pressure switch.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

The White and black wire on the far right come from the breaker. Both are the same gauge. The black on the left and red go from the switch out to the pump. Only way to tell for certain is pull the panel cover and see what colors are landed on the breaker. I’m with ghitch... I think you might have a bad breaker and only have one hot leg when both should be.

[video=youtube;AHcjjxYbgNM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHcjjxYbgNM[/video]

 

[churchmouse]

Fellas.......ease off the loud peddle OK.

Yes safety 1st last and always.

I have changed out hot 400A 3 phase breakers standing in a foot of water but I would never tell anyone else to be that stupid. I had good reasons but still. Power it down.

 

[actaeon277]

Phylo, did you ever get the pressure taken care of?

 

[Leadeye]

I miss this thread, it was better than "This Old House".

 

[phylodog]

Phylo, did you ever get the pressure taken care of?

I apologize for not updating, yes I did. The whole house filter was completely jammed up with iron. It was a carbon/sediment filter ($50) and I replaced it with a simple sediment filter and added iron out softener salt. The pressure is much better, not overwhelming but certainly livable.

Today my septic alarm is going off but only kind of lol. The red light is dimly lit and the alarm sounds like a sick chicken or something. When I hit the test button the light gets much brighter and the alarm much louder so I'm not sure what is going on. I removed the lid to the tank and the pump tank (thingy?) and didn't see anything that looked unusual so I'm not sure what's going on.