Does anyone have any idea what is going on with my pump?

[s9601694]

I have a variable speed pump (Jandy) that SOMETIMES trips the breaker. There is no rhyme or reason as to when. I have tried a lot to try to force it to trip and don't know if it is a GFCI or an overload issue. The first attempt to fix it was to swap out the breaker with a new one. I then drenched the pump (while running) in water with a hose from every angle. The pump is facing south in the Houston TX area and I figured it might have something to do with the heat. So i put an umbrella on it, but it tripped. Took the umbrella away and it didn't trip for weeks. Once tripped, the breaker will eventually stop tripping if I reset it a bunch of times (see the video clip).

The pump will be fine for weeks; coming off and turning on according to it's schdule and not tripping the breaker. Then all of a sudden it will be tripped again. I have literally no idea what is going on here.

Any ideas?! Thanks!

 

[s9601694]

 

[1poolman1]

I have a variable speed pump (Jandy) that SOMETIMES trips the breaker. There is no rhyme or reason as to when. I have tried a lot to try to force it to trip and don't know if it is a GFCI or an overload issue. The first attempt to fix it was to swap out the breaker with a new one. I then drenched the pump (while running) in water with a hose from every angle. The pump is facing south in the Houston TX area and I figured it might have something to do with the heat. So i put an umbrella on it, but it tripped. Took the umbrella away and it didn't trip for weeks. Once tripped, the breaker will eventually stop tripping if I reset it a bunch of times (see the video clip).

The pump will be fine for weeks; coming off and turning on according to it's schdule and not tripping the breaker. Then all of a sudden it will be tripped again. I have literally no idea what is going on here.

Any ideas?! Thanks!

Your videos don't work. What brand GFCI circuit breaker do you have? If not a Siemans, you may just be experiencing "nuisance" tripping due to the electronic "noise" a VSP drive can input to the wiring. The Siemans brand is far less susceptible to that issue. Is there anything else, like a SWG or booster pump, on that circuit (not un-common)?

 

[s9601694]

Your videos don't work. What brand GFCI circuit breaker do you have? If not a Siemans, you may just be experiencing "nuisance" tripping due to the electronic "noise" a VSP drive can input to the wiring. The Siemans brand is far less susceptible to that issue. Is there anything else, like a SWG or booster pump, on that circuit (not un-common)?

Weird that they arent working? not sure if there is another way to do that but the video just shows me flipping the breaker a number of times and it tripping right away. Then eventually it doesn't.

It is a SquareD fuse. I am pretty sure nothing else is connected to that circuit.

 

[1poolman1]

Weird that they arent working? not sure if there is another way to do that but the video just shows me flipping the breaker a number of times and it tripping right away. Then eventually it doesn't.

It is a SquareD fuse. I am pretty sure nothing else is connected to that circuit.

Square D GFCI breakers used to be less expensive than Siemans (no longer) and were used a lot. They are also smaller and easier to install in many panels. I gave up using them when I had to replace so many due to nuisance tripping. That would be my first guess. After that you need to check the wiring for any loose wires or anything else that may be on the circuit.

 

[Bill1974]

Likely nuisance tripping. You could try different breaker brands (depending what your panel accepts) or changing to a non-GFCI breaker and use an inline GFCI or connect the pump using a GFCI receptacle.

You could contact Jandy and see if they have a suggestion. Maybe certain settings are more likely cause a GFCI trip or they may have a recommendation on what GFCI are less prone to nuisance tripping with their pumps.

 

[s9601694]

Square D GFCI breakers used to be less expensive than Siemans (no longer) and were used a lot. They are also smaller and easier to install in many panels. I gave up using them when I had to replace so many due to nuisance tripping. That would be my first guess. After that you need to check the wiring for any loose wires or anything else that may be on the circuit.

So replace the SquareD breaker with a Siemens one? Will a siemens breaker fit in my Square D panel?

 

[1poolman1]

So replace the SquareD breaker with a Siemens one? Will a siemens breaker fit in my Square D panel?

Depends on the panel. Picture? Siemans GFCI breakers are larger than Square D, so sometimes there isn't much room. The neutral, though unused in a 240V application, must be installed and is also a larger wire gauge.