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

[actaeon277]

Like I said, first see if you tripped one breaker.
Probably not.
But maybe.

One breaker can trip.
Instead of going towards "off", it will just get "squishy". It won't be locked "on". You can push the breaker handle a bit.

 

[actaeon277]

oh i see that now...

I work on control systems worth hundreds of thousands, to millions of dollars.
So, I have a tendency to overly complicate things, and be nervous.

the result of pissing off my boss when I break something, or lighting myself up, sometimes in front of a boss, who then has to pretend he didn't see it so that he doesn't have to write me up.

I think my record is 30,000 volts off a Reactor Power nuclear instrument.
Well, and a couple times off a spark plug transformer, which is in the tens of thousands.

 

[actaeon277]

When you go to the hardware store, might want to see if they have a basic home electrical book.

 

[ghitch75]

I work on control systems worth hundreds of thousands, to millions of dollars.
So, I have a tendency to overly complicate things, and be nervous.

the result of pissing off my boss when I break something, or lighting myself up, sometimes in front of a boss, who then has to pretend he didn't see it so that he doesn't have to write me up.

I think my record is 30,000 volts off a Reactor Power nuclear instrument.
Well, and a couple times off a spark plug transformer, which is in the tens of thousands.

not saying anything about what you know.........i know where you work and the power it takes to melt steel.......but i have done well work for over 30 years......

 

[ghitch75]

if he was closer i could go change it in 10 mins....

 

[actaeon277]

https://www.thespruce.com/do-circuit-breaker-brands-matter-3969935
Circuit Breaker Brands Matter


https://www.thespruce.com/are-breakers-interchangeable-1152723
Are Circuit Breakers Interchangeable?

 

[actaeon277]

not saying anything about what you know.........i know where you work and the power it takes to melt steel.......but i have done well work for over 30 years......

Well....


then I probably should shut up and let you speak without me interrupting.



And, if he were close, I'd go help.
It might take me 3x longer than you, but I'd get it done.


I have changed a breaker, and well pressure switch.
but it's been a looooong time.

 

[ghitch75]

just kill the main remove the cover screws and loosen the 2 wires then lift the breaker from left to right......pop the new one in and tighten the wires....put the cover back on and hit the main then the pump breaker....

 

[ghitch75]

Well....


then I probably should shut up and let you speak without me interrupting.



And, if he were close, I'd go help.
It might take me 3x longer than you, but I'd get it done.


I have changed a breaker, and well pressure switch.
but it's been a looooong time.

no your just trying to help too.....

 

[phylodog]

I really appreciate all of the assistance on this gents as well as the cautions. I just checked the breaker and there is no squishy feel to it in the on or off position. Looks like I need to visit the hardware store again. Hopefully this will resolve the poor water pressure issue.

 

[actaeon277]

I really appreciate all of the assistance on this gents as well as the cautions. I just checked the breaker and there is no squishy feel to it in the on or off position. Looks like I need to visit the hardware store again. Hopefully this will resolve the poor water pressure issue.

The pump should pump faster than your water use.
Should turn on, then off for awhile. Then on, then off for awhile.

If you only have 120 going to it, it will pump slow, and it will probably keep running while using water.


You could have a leak somewhere.
If you have a leak, the pump will turn on and off, when you have NO water usage.
That shouldn't happen.

 

[ghitch75]

I really appreciate all of the assistance on this gents as well as the cautions. I just checked the breaker and there is no squishy feel to it in the on or off position. Looks like I need to visit the hardware store again. Hopefully this will resolve the poor water pressure issue.

lowes or menards would be cheaper if they are close.......wait you have water?......if you have a 220v pump it shouldn't even run with just 110 to it.....

 

[actaeon277]

I'm more used to stuff like this, except DIRTY

 

[ghitch75]

The pump should pump faster than your water use.
Should turn on, then off for awhile. Then on, then off for awhile.

If you only have 120 going to it, it will pump slow, and it will probably keep running while using water.


You could have a leak somewhere.
If you have a leak, the pump will turn on and off, when you have NO water usage.
That shouldn't happen.

i didn't see your post...i was posting

 

[ghitch75]

I'm more used to stuff like this, except DIRTY

i worked on stuff like that but the where motor controlers and energy management systems when i was in the pipefitters union....

 

[phylodog]

lowes or menards would be cheaper if they are close.......wait you have water?......if you have a 220v pump it shouldn't even run with just 110 to it.....

I do have water. I've read that a 220v pump will run on 110v just not very well.

 

[ghitch75]

I do have water. I've read that a 220v pump will run on 110v just not very well.

ok......i have never seen it.....

 

[Clay Pigeon]

I'm more used to stuff like this, except DIRTY

I'm late to this goat rope but...
So you supposedly work on and understand PLC's but you can't tell someone how to use a meter and check a double pole breaker and a simple set of contacts on a well pressure switch. For some reason, I'm not buying it....

 

[actaeon277]

I'm late to this goat rope but...
So you supposedly work on and understand PLC's but you can't tell someone how to use a meter and check a double pole breaker and a simple set of contacts on a well pressure switch. For some reason, I'm not buying it....

Things are a LOT easier, when you have them in front of you.
troubleshooting over a phone is a PIA

 

[Cameramonkey]

The breaker hasn't shut off on me yet and I've shut it off and back on several times. If I were to kill the main breaker to the house, is replacing the breaker something I can do myself? I've been hemorrhaging money for the past month and don't really want to pay someone $200 to do something that takes two minutes and I could have done myself.

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.