Pentair VS Pump error ooof

[Vinchenzzi]

I'm on my sixth season with my pentair pump/motor. Recently as last year to this year, I would some times wake up or get home and breaker would be tripped. Unfortunately, until just today, I was never in right place at right time to witness. Today, I was and saw "error ooof". I've searched threads and found some info. Apparently its insufficient voltage? There were troubleshooting steps that I am going to go give a shot momentarily, but wanted to see if there was anything anyone could chime in on. I'll check L1 and L2 voltage as mentioned in other posts. Then have power turned on while checking to see if power drops off. If power drops off, What is that an indicator of? What else can I check? Could it simply be GFCI Breaker? Thanks for any help.

 

[tcross04]

I work for a builder as a designer. One of our guys from the field would probably know more, but I know we’re fanatical about making sure we use the right wire size out to a pool sub panel and keeping the run from the sub to pump short for this very reason.

If the pump is not getting enough voltage it can burn up an electric motor so I’m sure there is a fail safe in the pump to protect itself.

Why it just started happening is another question. Has anything been added to the pool panel recently, SWCG perhaps, new pool light, landscape light, bug zapper, etc?

I may be over thinking it, but don’t forget to consider everything between the main house panel to the pump.

Best of luck! I’m sure you’ll find some help here.

 

[Jimrahbe]

V,

I doubt that you have a low voltage problem at all.. When the breaker pops the voltage goes away, but the pump can still work for a few mircoseconds. Just long enough to report the low voltage problem.

I assume your pump is powered by a GFCI breaker. VS pumps are known to cause noise on the electrical line that can intermittently cause the GFCI breakers to pop.

The first thing you want to do is to replace the GFCI Breaker. You either need a Pentair or Siemens breaker.

Could also be that your pump is generating more noise, but the breaker is much cheaper to try first.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Vinchenzzi]

Project was inspected in 2017 to be sufficient. I know that that doesnt mean much in this day and age though. Sub panel is approximately 10' from main. Pump/motor is approximately 10' from sub. I tested voltage from SP to motor and had 238v. With Salt Cell off, I turned breaker on, and held 238. Turned RPM's to 3450 and maintained 238. Then I turned Salt Cell on, all while maintaining 238v. I did remove housing and cleaned any pollen that may have built up near fan, perhaps causing an over heating issue. I would think error code would be different though if that was case but I cleaned it all up anyhow. Currently all is running, and to my untrained eyes and ears, running smooth, quiet, and as it should. Let me know what anyone thinks. Thanks.

 

[Vinchenzzi]

V,

I doubt that you have a low voltage problem at all.. When the breaker pops the voltage goes away, but the pump can still work for a few mircoseconds. Just long enough to report the low voltage problem.

I assume your pump is powered by a GFCI breaker. VS pumps are known to cause noise on the electrical line that can intermittently cause the GFCI breakers to pop.

The first thing you want to do is to replace the GFCI Breaker. You either need a Pentair or Siemens breaker.

Could also be that your pump is generating more noise, but the breaker is much cheaper to try first.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Does it HAVE to be a pentair or Siemens breaker? Not sure that will work in my panel but I'm no expert. My SP is a Square D Home. Sorry for my ignorance, but when you say noise, what are you talking about and is there a way to troubleshoot?

 

[ajw22]

Does it HAVE to be a pentair or Siemens breaker?

Yes to minimize false trips.

Electrical GFCI - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Not sure that will work in my panel but I'm no expert. My SP is a Square D Home.

Circuit Breaker Compatibility Guide: What Breakers Are Interchangeable

Circuit breakers are one of the most important components of electricity. However, like all electrical parts, circuit breakers tend to go bad and must be

homeinspectioninsider.com

If your panel is Square D then yes.

If your panel is Homeline then no.

While Homeline breakers are interchangeable with many different breaker brands, the feeling isn’t likewise reciprocated. The lack of reciprocation is because Homeline panels have a small protrusion on their bus bars, making other breakers incompatible with them. You can only use Homeline and select Square D breakers in a Homeline panel box.

If you continue to get false trips consider putting in a subpanel for your pump CB that is compatable with Siemens breakers.

Sorry for my ignorance, but when you say noise, what are you talking about

Electrical GFCI - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Harmonics from the variable frequency drive can cause false GFCI trips. Pentair PA220GF is a 20A 240V GFCI breaker that GFCI trips at 6ma. The PA220GF is supposed to be less sensitive to false GCFI trips from VS pumps.

The PA220GF is a relabeled Siemens CB (QF220AP). Siemens added additional shielding to help resist false trips. Some say Pentair may have additional quality control and selects breakers less susceptible to false GFCI trips.

and is there a way to troubleshoot?

Nope.

 

[Jimrahbe]

V,

Almost all voltages have electrical noise riding on them. Obviously this is not a noise that you can hear, but you can see it with an O-Scope or special meters.

There is not really anything that the home owner can do to eliminate the noise, and in most cases it is very low and causes no problems at all.

In the case of VS pumps, the electronics in the pump's controls changes the 240 Volts AC into DC pulses to drive the actual motor. This process creates electrical noise.. Again, in most cases this noise does not cause any problems. But, in some cases this noise goes backwards into the AC power electrical wiring and when the GFCI sees it, it thinks there is a GFCI problem and it pops the breaker. If it popped the breaker every time, it would be easy to fix, but in most cases, the problem is very intermittent and often will only pop the breaker once a month or once a week..

Most electrical load centers allow many different kinds of breakers to be installed. Inside the door to the breaker panel, there is usually a list of breakers that will fit.

Worst case.. If only Square-D breakers fit, I'd still replace the breaker..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Vinchenzzi]

V,

Almost all voltages have electrical noise riding on them. Obviously this is not a noise that you can hear, but you can see it with an O-Scope or special meters.

There is not really anything that the home owner can do to eliminate the noise, and in most cases it is very low and causes no problems at all.

In the case of VS pumps, the electronics in the pump's controls changes the 240 Volts AC into DC pulses to drive the actual motor. This process creates electrical noise.. Again, in most cases this noise does not cause any problems. But, in some cases this noise goes backwards into the AC power electrical wiring and when the GFCI sees it, it thinks there is a GFCI problem and it pops the breaker. If it popped the breaker every time, it would be easy to fix, but in most cases, the problem is very intermittent and often will only pop the breaker once a month or once a week..

Most electrical load centers allow many different kinds of breakers to be installed. Inside the door to the breaker panel, there is usually a list of breakers that will fit.

Worst case.. If only Square-D breakers fit, I'd still replace the breaker..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I will look into it. Thanks so much. I will keep you posted.