I have a rock waterfall that runs on a Pentair pump that is separate from the main filter pump. The whole system was installed well over two years ago and we never had a problem with it until about three or four months ago. It simply refused to respond to the remote control, so I checked the panel and the circuit breaker (for the waterfall pump only) was popped and could not be switched back on. I made an appointment with a repairman, but before he came out I checked the circuit breaker again and was able to flip it on, and all was well again. I checked it several times after that and it was always fine, but I stopped checking a few weeks ago. Today I wanted to turn it on again. Same thing, circuit breaker popped and wouldn't go back on. Fast forward a few hours. It's nighttime now, and I went and checked the box and lo and behold, I was able to flip the breaker again and all is well again.
Does anyone have any idea what could possibly cause something that worked fine for almost two years to suddenly develop a problem without even using it or touching it? It's not rain or moisture, because this is Vegas, there hasn't been rain in months and there are no leaks or water drips anywhere around, and the wiring is above ground in conduits and hasn't been touched. Today was a really hot day, but it wasn't hot the last time this happened, so heat isn't causing it. And what the heck prevents me from flipping the circuit breaker to the "on" position when this happens? If it was an electrical issue, one would think I could flip it on and then it would break the minute I turned on the pump, but noooo, when this happens I can't even flip the circuit breaker on -- it just stays in the middle. Then a few days (or in this case, hours) later, it operates normally again.
I don't really want to pay a repairman to try to diagnose an intermittent issue like this, especially when we rarely turn on the waterfall in the first place and it seems to resolve itself anyway -- but it is annoying to try to show off your waterfall and it won't work!
Does anyone have any idea what could possibly cause something that worked fine for almost two years to suddenly develop a problem without even using it or touching it? It's not rain or moisture, because this is Vegas, there hasn't been rain in months and there are no leaks or water drips anywhere around, and the wiring is above ground in conduits and hasn't been touched. Today was a really hot day, but it wasn't hot the last time this happened, so heat isn't causing it. And what the heck prevents me from flipping the circuit breaker to the "on" position when this happens? If it was an electrical issue, one would think I could flip it on and then it would break the minute I turned on the pump, but noooo, when this happens I can't even flip the circuit breaker on -- it just stays in the middle. Then a few days (or in this case, hours) later, it operates normally again.
I don't really want to pay a repairman to try to diagnose an intermittent issue like this, especially when we rarely turn on the waterfall in the first place and it seems to resolve itself anyway -- but it is annoying to try to show off your waterfall and it won't work!