Pump overheating?

[PrairieGirl]

We have a Jandy PHPF1.0 single speed pump that has been turning off when it's in the sun. We noticed this at the beginning of the week when we started the pump up for the first time as part of our pool opening (new to us pool). The pump is probably almost 10 years old - I'm going to guess it's the original pump. It's on the south side of a building, and gets full sun all day.

We've been shading the pump with a big piece of cardboard, but it can't live under cardboard forever.

What does this tell us about our pump? is it on the way out? is there something we could/should do with the pump itself? We are planning to eventually build a roof over the equipment and put up a screen/fence around it (kind of lean-to style, since it's an eyesore, but that's a project for next year, or later.

Help?

 

[kadavis]

Pool motors usually turn off from internal heat not ambient temperature. You could be drawing to many amps or even the ventalation is blocked. When the motor turns off does it trip breaker? Does the motor come back on after awhile? Motors have a internal overload device that can trip and when it cools down will try to start again. What happens if you run pump at night?

 

[alben]

Make sure the ventilation slots on the motor are free and clear. Make sure that there is no heavy vegetation or other items within a foot of the motor that would restrict airflow around the motor.

If you can find someone with a clamp-on amp probe, measure the amps to both motor legs and make sure it does not exceed the nameplate rating on the motor. The name plate rating will show both for 120 VAC and 240VAC.

Centrifugal pumps (such as pool pumps) actually draw MORE current when moving the highest volume of water (such as when having no return inlet jets installed).

 

[bobodaclown]

Are you able to turn the shaft by hand from either end? Does it turn easily? Smoothly? It could be the bearings are going bad, but they usually make noise first. Another issue may be the impeller end may be clogged/binding/rubbing. Just a couple of ideas.

 

[PrairieGirl]

It does not trip the breaker when it turns off. We can just cover it with cardboard, and then push the filter pump power button on the control panel.

 

[gwegan]

In the long run the least expensive thing you can do now is replace the pump with a two speed pump or motor.

Call a couple of pool stores and talk to them. The amount you will save in electricity and future repairs will be greater than what you will ever save keeping this old pump limping along.

 

[PrairieGirl]

The pump does turn on after a while, once we've shaded it.
Pump runs fine all night.

Will have other half measure the amps on the motor.

Haven't tried to turn the shaft manually. When we wash the filter cartridges here in a n hour or so, we can do some further checking for blockage of airflow.
Thanks for the ideas!

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This is the pump in question.

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IMG_3961 by Carrie, on Flickr