GFI tripping on well pump used in a lake.

[itsmoked]

So I've had a question posed to me about a well pump used in a recreational lake. It's a single phase pump with the typical start/run package on shore. The circuit will not run reliably on a GFI but of course runs just fine with a standard breaker. Clearly it has leakage of more than 6mA.

I was asked if an isolation transformer would work. Probably it would work for preventing the GFI from tripping but I don't think that would help the soon to be electrocuted swimmers. That strikes me in this particular case as a tool to isolate only the GFI from reality.

The motor leads show 2Mohms to ground, seems low to me, but I'm told Franklin techs only consider it actionable at 500kohms or less.

The wire run is several hundred feet.

I'm not sure if code would allow a GFI with a higher or adjustable trip point in this app in NEC land.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[waross]

Correct. My example was based on a 240 Volt pump on a 120:240 Volt circuit.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[MikeHalloran]

I'd start by pulling the pump up, possibly replacing the wire as davidbeach suggests, and making sure that every splice/connection is covered by that shrinktube with hot melt goo inside.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA