2-Speed Pump Motor Problem

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Riley1

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Oct 6, 2013
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Rockford/MI
I have a 2 speed pump motor which is about 4 years old. Recently I noticed the pump didn’t turn on as scheduled. I determined the start capacitor was bad and replaced it. All was good for a month and then it happened again. I noticed the motor and capacitor were unusually hot. I flipped it on low speed and no problem. A couple of hours later just for kicks I tried high speed it works fine but is hot. I was able to alternate back and forth between high and low no problem. The next day the same thing all over again, it didn't start until I went to low and flipped it to high. I did notice if I put the switch in the off position and then back to high I get a loud buzz. I can then start on low speed and flip to high and it runs. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Rick
 
I've been having the same problem with an old Waterway Supreme 2-speed to the point I rarely use high speed anymore other than to just purge air (quickly) from the system. My pump is on low 24/7 anyways. As to why the motors seem to struggle to run for long periods and/or get excessively while on high would seem to point towards excessive resistance placed on themotor itself.

At only 4 years old the windings "should" still be fine, but odd things happen. You might double check to ensure there is nothing deep inside the pump pot placing strain on the motor in the impeller/diffuser area. Some debris can get tangled in there and that will certainly do it.
 
I have zero experience with these pumps, but have an EE background. A run capacitor with the wrong capacitance value could cause heat problems, humming and high power consumption.
 
Last edited:
Riley1 said:
I have a 2 speed pump motor which is about 4 years old. Recently I noticed the pump didn’t turn on as scheduled. I determined the start capacitor was bad and replaced it. All was good for a month and then it happened again. I noticed the motor and capacitor were unusually hot. I flipped it on low speed and no problem. A couple of hours later just for kicks I tried high speed it works fine but is hot. I was able to alternate back and forth between high and low no problem. The next day the same thing all over again, it didn't start until I went to low and flipped it to high. I did notice if I put the switch in the off position and then back to high I get a loud buzz. I can then start on low speed and flip to high and it runs. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Rick
Click to expand...
The licensed electrician I paid to wire up my new 2 speed pump did not understand two speed pumps. He made some assumptions about wiring that appeared to be based on wire color rather than figuring out the somewhat confusing instructions from the pump manufacturer and the same exact thing happened after about 9 months.
Try to figure it out yourself if you can and get an "experienced" and qualified licensed electrician to do it. An electric motor repair shop or a pump repair show probably recommend a good guy.
I ended up doing it my self and learned something from that experience. Decades ago I built up a few Heathkit projects and it wasn't too hard to complete it. I also have a few decades in construction as a GC too.
No, I'll only recommend that electrician to people with simple projects, or maybe to people I don't like very much.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've got a couple of things to look at. It's not a wiring issue as this has been running fine for 4 years except for the capacitor I recently replaced which was obviously bad (top mushroomed out).

I received a pump rebuild kit today and will pull the pump apart tomorrow and see if it's related to the pump as suggested above.

Rick
 
Two-speed motors are notoriously short lived, especially if it is a replacement motor. OEM, for some reason, seem to last longer.
You would be much better off to replace the motor with a variable-speed one. Needs to match your existing pump. If you give specs it would help to be able to give further suggestions.
 
Thanks, good info on the life span of a 2 speed motor. My last 2 motors (OEM and 1 replacement) were both single speed and each lasted 10+ years. When I replaced the last one I thought I would try the 2 speed. I found I rarely if ever use the low speed so I ordered another single speed. If I don't find any issues with the pump I'll install the new motor and call it good.
 
1poolman, my 2-speed pump is not on a timer. It has a toggle switch underneath the back cover: Hi- Off- Lo.

If always manually starting in Hi, can I safely go from Hi, then straight through Off, to Low? Just seems like it would be hard on the equipment. Thanks!
 

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