My well is located 400+ feet from the storage tanks and pressure switch in the basement. I buried a 12-2 romex with the pipe 22 years ago. This spring one of the wires shorted so I made a bastard hookup up using the ground and the remaining good wire. Today the second one shorted, so I made a double bastard - hot from power in house to one of the wires and cut the other two loose. Pick up a ground at the well. Works for today, need to put on high priority to repair.
Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I see underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated for 30 volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering 24 volt relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 years? This would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than 6 inches deep.
You can find the cable/wire on Ebay for less than 150. And use water pipe for conduit. But all this is not to code so beware the code inspectors if this is a problem.
> My well is located 400+ feet from the storage tanks and pressure switch in > the basement. I buried a 12-2 romex with the pipe 22 years ago. This > spring one of the wires shorted so I made a bastard hookup up using the > ground and the remaining good wire. Today the second one shorted, so I > made a double bastard - hot from power in house to one of the wires and > cut the other two loose. Pick up a ground at the well. Works for today, > need to put on high priority to repair.
> Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I > see underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated > for 30 volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering > 24 volt relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 > years? This would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than > 6 inches deep.
> other ideas?
I'm puzzled. How are you planning to get power to the pump (110v or 220v) from the house to the well. I'm assuming you are dealing with a submersible pump in the well. Maybe a little more info would help. Paul
> I'm puzzled. How are you planning to get power to the pump (110v or 220v) > from the house to the well. I'm assuming you are dealing with a > submersible pump in the well. Maybe a little more info would help.
Power goes out on #4 underground direct from the meter. This is just the signal from the pressure switch to the motor contactor
> Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I see > underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated for 30 > volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering 24 volt > relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 years? This > would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than 6 inches deep.
I read your explanation downthread that this is only a control line. I believe that your idea will work, but I would feel more secure installing 1/2" minimum conduit so that you can easily fix any future problems, and then use ordinary THHN conductors. Sorry, I haven't saved you any money, but you have discovered why I don't dirrect bury electrical cable. Conduit can be expensive, but it is cheap compared to the price/labor of digging a new ditch.
> "Karl Townsend" <karltownsend....@embarqmail.com> wrote in message > news:48700df9$0$2557$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com... > > My well is located 400+ feet from the storage tanks and pressure switch in > > the basement. I buried a 12-2 romex with the pipe 22 years ago. This > > spring one of the wires shorted so I made a bastard hookup up using the > > ground and the remaining good wire. Today the second one shorted, so I > > made a double bastard - hot from power in house to one of the wires and > > cut the other two loose. Pick up a ground at the well. Works for today, > > need to put on high priority to repair.
> > Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I > > see underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated > > for 30 volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering > > 24 volt relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 > > years? This would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than > > 6 inches deep.
> > other ideas?
> I'm puzzled. How are you planning to get power to the pump (110v or 220v) > from the house to the well. I'm assuming you are dealing with a submersible > pump in the well. Maybe a little more info would help. > Paul
I'm missing that as well.
For all things underground, the answer is *always* conduit. Run appropriately sized PVC conduit, I'd probably say 1" would do, and pull individual THHN conductors through it.
If you have power at the well head from some other source, then just a low voltage control signal would work, or you could relocate the pressure switch to the well house.
> I read your explanation downthread that this is only a control line. I > believe that your idea will work, but I would feel more secure installing > 1/2" minimum conduit so that you can easily fix any future problems, and > then use ordinary THHN conductors. Sorry, I haven't saved you any money, > but you have
Well, I already have a stock of THHN wire from an auction. And a large supply of 1/2 PVC pipe. So this route would be VERY cheap. Now, that conduit will eventually fill with water (all underground runs will). I'm surprised THHN would be rated for years of water and ice exposure. Is this true????
>> I'm puzzled. How are you planning to get power to the pump (110v or 220v) >> from the house to the well. I'm assuming you are dealing with a >> submersible pump in the well. Maybe a little more info would help.
> Power goes out on #4 underground direct from the meter. This is just the > signal from the pressure switch to the motor contactor
> karl
OK, I get it now. Your idea would work, but it might be easier and simpler to move the pressure switch from the house to the well. The pressure switch really doesn't care where in the system that it's located, as long as it can sense the pressure. In the future, when running electricity underground, ALWAYS use conduit (grey PVC), then pull THWN wire through it. If you ever have a problem with the wire, it's a simple matter to replace it. Paul
> OK, I get it now. Your idea would work, but it might be easier and simpler > to move the pressure switch from the house to the well. The pressure > switch really doesn't care where in the system that it's located, as long > as it can sense the pressure.
NOT true. I tried it. There is a pressure wave that will kick out a pressure switch when the pump first comes on. Then the pressure drops right off and the switch closes. result is pump rapidly cycles on/off/on/off.
> In the future, when running electricity underground, ALWAYS use conduit > (grey PVC), then pull THWN wire through it. If you ever have a problem > with the wire, it's a simple matter to replace it. > Paul
I've not heard of THWN and I'm not seeing it listed in Mcmaster or grainger. Tell me more about it and where to purchase.
If you have power out at the well, why have 800' of wire for voltage loss? Run some low voltage control circuits out there.
As the others have said: use PVC conduit so you can replace wire as required. Actually, you really want to drop in TWO conduits so you can run power in one and control in the other.
Karl Townsend wrote: > My well is located 400+ feet from the storage tanks and pressure switch in > the basement. I buried a 12-2 romex with the pipe 22 years ago. This spring > one of the wires shorted so I made a bastard hookup up using the ground and > the remaining good wire. Today the second one shorted, so I made a double > bastard - hot from power in house to one of the wires and cut the other two > loose. Pick up a ground at the well. Works for today, need to put on high > priority to repair.
> Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I see > underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated for 30 > volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering 24 volt > relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 years? This > would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than 6 inches deep.
> > OK, I get it now. Your idea would work, but it might be easier and simpler > > to move the pressure switch from the house to the well. The pressure > > switch really doesn't care where in the system that it's located, as long > > as it can sense the pressure.
> NOT true. I tried it. There is a pressure wave that will kick out a pressure > switch when the pump first comes on. Then the pressure drops right off and > the switch closes. result is pump rapidly cycles on/off/on/off.
You need a buffer / accumulator tank and/or flow restrictor to the pressure switch then.
> > In the future, when running electricity underground, ALWAYS use conduit > > (grey PVC), then pull THWN wire through it. If you ever have a problem > > with the wire, it's a simple matter to replace it. > > Paul
> I've not heard of THWN and I'm not seeing it listed in Mcmaster or grainger. > Tell me more about it and where to purchase.
Check your THHN markings, you'll in all probability find it has a multiple listing including THWN.
