Centurion B855 filter pump blows main panel circuit breaker

[Joseb]

Hi:

I have a 220V breaker at a main panel feeding 4 other breakers in a sub panel going to the pool equipment. The other day I noticed my pool was not running and checked the the other equipment, i.e. the cleaner, were running., which they are When I looked at the main breaker, the 220 breaker was tripped. If I reset it, and press F (for filter pump) at the Pentair Intellitouch panel, I hear a thud and the breaker is tripped. The breakers in the sub panel are not tripped.

I can spin the motor by hand so it's not jammed. I replaced the start capacitor, same thing. I am thinking it's either the relay in the Pentair panel (this happened once before when i replaced a motor) or the motor.

I also have an original Whisperflo motor for a twaterfall feature (not working - jammed). I was was thinking would it be feasible to switch the relays to see if that's the issue?
I have both a new relay and motor on order.

Any other diagnostics I can do, such as with a meter?

Thanks

Jose
Proud owner of a lovely green pool.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jose,

I can't see how it could be the relay in the EasyTouch. All it does is send the power to the pump.

You need to disconnect the power where is enters the pump, then turn the power on, and I suspect the circuit breaker will not pop. Use a voltmeter to measure between the two hot wires going into the pump, you should get 240 volts. If you do, the pump is bad.

I am assuming that the motor is wired up for 240 and not 120 volts.

Thanks

Jim R.

 

[Joseb]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the advice. I will go ahead and try that.

Thanks

Jose

 

[Joseb]

Jose,

I can't see how it could be the relay in the EasyTouch. All it does is send the power to the pump.

You need to disconnect the power where is enters the pump, then turn the power on, and I suspect the circuit breaker will not pop. Use a voltmeter to measure between the two hot wires going into the pump, you should get 240 volts. If you do, the pump is bad.

I am assuming that the motor is wired up for 240 and not 120 volts.

Thanks

Jim R.

Hi Jim

I disconnected the wires from the motor, placed a voltmeter on one red wire and the other on ground. I turned on the breaker and meter had no change. When I pressed F on the easy touch the main breaker did not trip, the meter went quick to 115v and I heard the easy touch panel click. The meter went back down to 0.

Is this normal?

Thanks

Jose

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jose,

Three things..

1. When you test for 240 volts at the pump, you need to test between the two hot leads going into the pump (L1 and L2). You can't test L1 to ground and then L2 to ground as this can cause a false reading.

2. The 240 volts has to pass through the Pump/Filter relay to get to the pump. The relay will not close unless the system is in the Pool mode or you press the "F" button.

3. The voltage should not go away after you push the F button, so it could be that the relay contracts are bad, which would not surprise me if the pump has been popping the main circuit breaker.

You can replace the Pump/Filter relay if you have any unused relays in your panel.

The first thing to get working is the 240 volts going to the pump (With power NOT connected to the pump.)

Once you know for sure you have 240 volts going to the pump, you can turn off the power and reconnect the pump and see if it still pops the breaker when you turn power back on and push the F button.

My guess is as soon as you connect the pump, the breaker will pop again, as I suspect that the pump is bad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Joseb]

Jose,

Three things..

1. When you test for 240 volts at the pump, you need to test between the two hot leads going into the pump (L1 and L2). You can't test L1 to ground and then L2 to ground as this can cause a false reading.

2. The 240 volts has to pass through the Pump/Filter relay to get to the pump. The relay will not close unless the system is in the Pool mode or you press the "F" button.

3. The voltage should not go away after you push the F button, so it could be that the relay contracts are bad, which would not surprise me if the pump has been popping the main circuit breaker.

You can replace the Pump/Filter relay if you have any unused relays in your panel.

The first thing to get working is the 240 volts going to the pump (With power NOT connected to the pump.)

Once you know for sure you have 240 volts going to the pump, you can turn off the power and reconnect the pump and see if it still pops the breaker when you turn power back on and push the F button.

My guess is as soon as you connect the pump, the breaker will pop again, as I suspect that the pump is bad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hi Jim

Thanks again for the help. I have a new relay and a new pump so I am just going to replace both at the same time.

Jose

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jose,

The first rule of good troubleshooting is to never do two things at once...

But, I see your point

Good luck with your project.

Jim R.

 

[Joseb]

Jose,

The first rule of good troubleshooting is to never do two things at once...

But, I see your point

Good luck with your project.

Jim R.

Thanks!