Main filter pump breaker tripped

[James L.]

Have Easytouch with Whiperflo (model WF-28) 2hp single speed main pump.
Had big thunderstorm last night, lots of lightning/thunder, main pump breaker tripped.
Reset breaker, it trips.
All other pumps (water feature, spa jets) work normally; lights and blower motor work normally.
Only main pump (and salt cell generator which is tied to pump) won't run due to tripped breaker.
Breaker light is not blinking.
No visible signs of damage anywhere.

I saw another post where the probable diagnosis was pump relay out.

Any ideas on what is wrong and how to fix it (which I'm sure involves buying an expensive part).
Thanks.

 

[1poolman1]

Have Easytouch with Whiperflo (model WF-28) 2hp single speed main pump.
Had big thunderstorm last night, lots of lightning/thunder, main pump breaker tripped.
Reset breaker, it trips.
All other pumps (water feature, spa jets) work normally; lights and blower motor work normally.
Only main pump (and salt cell generator which is tied to pump) won't run due to tripped breaker.
Breaker light is not blinking.
No visible signs of damage anywhere.

I saw another post where the probable diagnosis was pump relay out.

Any ideas on what is wrong and how to fix it (which I'm sure involves buying an expensive part).
Thanks.

Is this a GFCI breaker? Lightning strikes can fry electrical devices far from the event and may have damaged the breaker. If you are not familiar or comfortable working on high-voltage equipment, hire a pro. Its not worth it to get hurt over a pool part.

If you are comfortable with working on electrical parts, with the pump breaker off, disconnect the wires that go to the pump and SWG from what should be the top left relay (#1) in the high-voltage compartment. Reset the breaker and then, with the panel in service mode, push the "filter" button (#1). If the breaker trips, you have found the issue is probably with the EasyTouch board.

If the breaker doesn't trip, go ahead and turn it and the #1 button off, install the pump wires to the relay, reset the breaker, and try it again. If it trips the breaker you have isolated the problem to the pump or its wiring.

If it doesn't trip the breaker, again turn the breaker and #1 button off, install the wiring for the SWG and try the process again. If it trips this time, its a problem with the SWG or its wiring.

 

[James L.]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it's a GFCI double pole breaker. Indicator light on it is not blinking.
I have no problem carrying out your instructions (which are very clear).
Of the 3 possible problems you proposed, none of them is a bad pump relay. I only say this because another post mentioned a bad pump relay. Did you mean somewhere in your post that the pump relay could be bad, and I just misunderstood it?
Also, it could be a bad breaker ? Even though the light on the breaker is not lit?

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it's a GFCI double pole breaker. Indicator light on it is not blinking.
I have no problem carrying out your instructions (which are very clear).
Of the 3 possible problems you proposed, none of them is a bad pump relay. I only say this because another post mentioned a bad pump relay. Did you mean somewhere in your post that the pump relay could be bad, and I just misunderstood it?

Extremely rare that a relay could cause a high-voltage breaker to trip, its not controlled/protected by that breaker, its a low-voltage device.
Easy way to tell is, after removing the high-voltage wires from the pump relay, swap the small relay wires that go to the board with one of the others, move #1 relay wire to socket #2 and push the #2 button to turn it on. What happens?
If, by some weird chance, it is a relay, they are actually inexpensive, you don't have to get one in a Pentair box. Omron G7L-2A-BUBJ-CB-DC24 General Purpose Relay With Test Button, Class B Insulation, Screw Terminal, Upper Bracket Mounting, Double Pole Single ThrowOmron G7L-2A-BUBJ-CB-DC24 General Purpose Relay, about $21.00.
Before moving anything, take a picture with your phone so you can return everything to its original state. I do that every time I work on wiring, just in case.

 

[James L.]

Thanks so much. It's raining again, so this job is delayed.
Pool is only about 5 years old, everything running fine before thunderstorm, so I'm pretty certain it's lightning/surge related.

 

[James L.]

Any way to determine if the breaker got killed (besides buying a new breaker and testing that out)? Those double pole GFCI breakers are expensive.
Also, could I take the double pole GFCI breaker that goes to another pump (either the water feature or the spa jets pumps) and replace the pump breaker with that and see if the pump works?

 

[1poolman1]

Any way to determine if the breaker got killed (besides buying a new breaker and testing that out)? Those double pole GFCI breakers are expensive.

Swap the wires in the breaker with ones from another circuit. Turn the device on. If it trips it could be the breaker.

 

[James L.]

OK, you answered that. Thanks. Now just stop raining.

 

[Bill1974]

Disconnect the pump or SWG and see if the breaker still trips when only one is connected. As state above also connecting the pump and SWG to a different breaker if one is available is a good test to see what component the problem follows. Also check the connections to make sure they are all tight. Most likely the breaker is the issue. If you had a lot of rain and the pump is exposed there is a chance water got in it and is causing a current leak to ground or the bonding wire.

 

[James L.]

There are multiple wires that connect to the relay. Which ones are for the pump and which ones are for the SWG?

 

[1poolman1]

There are multiple wires that connect to the relay. Which ones are for the pump and which ones are for the SWG?

Follow the conduit. That's the best way to tell.

 

[James L.]

I don't know which wires go to the pump, and which ones go to the SWG, so I don't know what to disconnect.

 

[1poolman1]

I don't know which wires go to the pump, and which ones go to the SWG, so I don't know what to disconnect.

Again, "Follow the conduit. That's the best way to tell.

 

[James L.]

I removed the wires (one black and one red) from the tripping pump breaker (second breaker from top; the first double pole breaker from top) and connected them to the next breaker below (same amps, also double pole GFCI; removed the wires that were going to it originally). Breaker tripped as soon as I threw them all on.

 

[1poolman1]

I removed the wires (one black and one red) from the tripping pump breaker (second breaker from top; the first double pole breaker from top) and connected them to the next breaker below (same amps, also double pole GFCI; removed the wires that were going to it originally). Breaker tripped as soon as I threw them all on.

Now you know that it probably isn't the breaker. Now, put the wires back as they were and disconnect the wires on terminals 2 and 4 of the relay that the breaker feeds. Try the relay. Likely won't trip, but maybe. Then take one pair of wires from one conduit and attach to the relay and try again. Does it trip the breaker? That piece of equipment is bad or the wires burned. If not, remove those and try the other pair. What happens? If it trips, that piece of equipment or its wiring is the issue. You have to follow the conduit to determine to what equipment those wires are connected, especially if all the wires are the same color (as some builders will do).

A picture of the panel wiring would be a great help. There is nothing that is completely standard in the way builders/installers wire the equipment so a picture is better.

 

[James L.]

The relay has 4 terminals and six wires connecting to it. Terminals left to right I'll call 1,2,3,4.
The main pump wires (red and black) from the main pump conduit connect to the relay (black to term.1; red to term.3). A different black goes from term 2; and a different red goes from term4 to the breaker that trips.
White wire connected to term 2, and yellow wire that connects to term 4 go to large transformer.
Are the white and yellow wires the SWG wires?
The SWG has a 4 wire bundle that goes to a connector to the salt board.

I sent this post before reading your last post.

 

[James L.]

"Now, put the wires back as they were and disconnect the wires on terminals 2 and 4 of the relay that the breaker feeds." Terminals 1,2,3,4 left to right?

 

[1poolman1]

The relay has 4 terminals and six wires connecting to it. Terminals left to right I'll call 1,2,3,4.
The main pump wires (red and black) from the main pump conduit connect to the relay (black to term.1; red to term.3). A different black goes from term 2; and a different red goes from term4 to the breaker that trips.
White wire connected to term 2, and yellow wire that connects to term 4 go to large transformer.
Are the white and yellow wires the SWG wires?
The SWG has a 4 wire bundle that goes to a connector to the salt board.

I sent this post before reading your last post.

Terminals 1&3 should have power from the breaker, 2&4 to the equipment. That is the "standard" way. The way yours is works, but can get confusing to a service person trying to help.
White and yellow should be the SWG. Where are they connected?

 

[James L.]

Relay Terminals left to right 1,2,3,4.
Term 1 black to breaker. Term 3 red to breaker.

Term 2 black is from conduit of main pump. Term 4 red is from conduit of main pump.

Term 2 white and term 4 yellow go to large transformer.

 

[James L.]

Red and black wires with tape go to breaker.
Red and black wires that are not taped are from pump conduit.
White and yellow wires go to large transformer.