Hayward Max-Flo Pump Tripping Breaker

[Duggitz]

Hi there.

I am new to these forums, but I've noticed that a lot of people seem to run into the same issue I'm having, but with a few minor differences. I hope that it's ok that I start a new thread to deal with my particular issue.

This year when I went to open my pool, I found that my old pump was completely seized. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I purchased a brand new Hayward Max-Flo pump. I made sure that it was the same voltage, rpms, HP, etc as the old pump so as to make installation easier. The old owners of the house (oh yeah, we haven't had this house long by the way) were running the old 115V motor with a 15 amp fuse. When I turned on the new pump, it popped the fuse after about a half hour. I thought perhaps I was not using a large enough fuse for the new pump (even though I just read on it "max load: 15amps") so I put a 20 amp breaker-style fuse in the panel and flicked it on. It ran and ran well. It ran for two days while I went out to camp with no issues. When I arrived home, I noticed that the pool was a little more empty then it should be, so I immediately shut the pump off so that I could investigate.

Long story short, after I dug up half the pool and removed the roots from our neighbors tree that found its way through my return lines, I turned the pump back on. However, now it is popping the fuse every time. I have tried switching between the 15A and 20A with no prevail. The 20A lasts longer, but it still eventually pops. the 20A can last hours or even over-night, while the 15A tends to go out between 20 - 50 mins.

What am I missing here? The breakers in the house never trip, so the fuse panel in the pump house is doing its job. It's an incredibly simple circuit: panel > switch > pump. I am going to call an electrician if I can't figure it out (with the community's help of course)...or do I call a pool guy? I've never owned a pool so I don't even know which person to call, haha. I'm mechanically inclined, so I have no problem working with anything in this process.

The new pump is 115 / 230 volts (set to 115 because if I set it to 230 it just blinks on and off quickly and repeatedly). Model C48K2N143B3. 3450 RPM. Max Load of 15 / 7.5 amps (depending on 115v or 230v).

Thoughts?

 

[danpik]

A couple of things here. fuses or breakers? I am assuming breakers. Your original setup was a 15 amp breaker on, probably, a 15 amp rated line (14 gauge wire). trying to run a 15 amp load. Breakers will trip quickly on a full overcurrent (short circuit) situation or over a longer time on a full load which will cause heating inside the breaker. When you switched to a 20 amp breaker you were now over fusing the wire to the pump which can cause it to get hot. This will lead to increased resistance which will pull the amp draw up higher.

If you want to continue to use the 14 gauge wire, you will need to convert it to a 240 circuit with a double pole 15 amp breaker in the breaker box. If you want to continue to use the 120 volt circuit, you will need to upgrade the wire to at least 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker.

There is also all of the GFCI stuff as well.

Dan

 

[Duggitz]

Dan,

thank you for your reply. Inside the pump house, it is actually an old fuse panel. I just happen to be using fuses that have an overload switch like a breaker so instead of blowing the fuse, It just kicks out. However, your statement about the 14 gauge wire is probably true. I was trying to see what gauge it actually was, but it's so faded that I can't tell. I am definitely willing to wire the new length using 12 gauge instead as I have thought about that as well.

I think I will go ahead and try this out and see how it goes. I am going to leave this post here in case it doesn't work and other people might have a suggestion. I will update with results.

 

[tstex]

Dug

I'm not an electrician, but have had a lot of issues w a Hayward VSP ECS3400 w tripping breakers.

If I were you, I would go to the Hayward site and look up both the installation guide and op's manual. the I-guide will tell you everything you need to know, but I am very sure you will need 12ga wire and a true breaker, not a fuse. Look at the breaker types they recommend, then get a panel of that type.

I would ask around your n-hood what pool companies have good, trustworthy reps to help you and ask them if you need new wiring, can they do that to code or does electrician need to do it? From there, you being an Engr will know the right path to take. An electrician, if he sees the install guide, should know how to do it all. Then maybe someone here can help w you the pump for run time and other...that's the easy part.

You've had an older pump and older wiring "with fuses". I'd say it's time to upgrade your infrastructure to meet the requirements of the newer pump.

Pls keep us posted, tstex