Short at pump?

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F

Fuldo

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Nov 23, 2017
235
Port Orange, FL
I was informed that my pool pump in Florida wasn't working today. I'm away and walked a couple people through some basic diagnostics. There was no power to the Intermatic timer that powers the pump and SWG and the main breaker was found tripped. The breaker wouldn't reset until the Intermatic timer switch was placed in the off position and the breaker would then trip immediately when the Intermatic switch was placed in the "on" position. This is not a GFCI breaker (I know it should be but this is an old pool and original wiring). It appears there is a short after the timer and I'm guessing it's the pump and not the SWG that's almost new and probably couldn't draw enough current to trip the breaker. I'm told there was an electrical storm about the time this problem started a day or so ago.

Are shorted single-speed pumps common and what typically causes the short? Could it possibly just be the capacitor? I'm mostly trying to determine my best path forward and if it's worth me making a special trip there or getting a service person involved. I was thinking of getting a VSP replacement at some point but I've heard they are particularly vulnerable to line disturbances and after this episode I'm wondering if maybe the more durable single speed pump may be worth the extra electricity expense considering I spend a lot of time away from this home.
 
Doug,

I would disconnect the starter cap and try the breaker again.. The pump will not start, but if it does not pop the breaker, then I would install a new starter cap.. Don't leave it on for long with the cap not connected...

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim,

I had a friend scope things out and it appears the capacitor is OK and the motor has a short. I ordered an exact replacement pump that should arrive Friday or so. I'll be there to install it over the weekend. He was able to disconnect the pump and temporarily power-up the timer and SWG. The SWG appears to be OK but the timer isn't making its typical running noise so it seems the timer is cooked also. Maybe storm related but it's hard to believe those two items would fail and not the SWG controller on the same line. I was hoping to upgrade to a VSP but this problem and one my friend had in SC with a VSP last weekend (programming issue combined with SWG with flow switch stuck closed caused exploded PVC pipe) got me thinking that the simplicity and durability of a simple single speed pump would maybe be my best option at this point when I'm away so much.

Regards,
Doug
 
I arrived at my Florida house late last night. Did some basic troubleshooting on the old pump this morning. To my surprise I actually found an open circuit at the pump, not the short circuit that I suspected. Clearly something had changed and it seems internal to the motor. The new pump assembly arrived this morning and the swap-out took 15 minutes or so. Everything works as expected. I'll try to disassembly the old pump, figure-out what is wrong and if economically feasible I'll repair it myself or have someone do it so I have a spare pump assembly on-site when the pump dies again. Even if used for just a temporary fix having a spare pump is a good insurance policy.

To my surprise the timer still worked. I think I'll replace the mechanism with a new one for better reliability going forward and keep the old one for emergency use.
 
The plan, good or not, failed! I ran into enough difficulties that I abandoned trying to reuse the pump/motor.
1) Three of the four longs screw holding the motor together were so corroded and bound that they twisted-off at the end of the threaded section.
2) I broke the impeller in the process of disassembly.
3) The condition of the motor parts, even the case, was rather poor and potentially unreliable.
4) There are a number of different electrical devices and many wires and connections internal to this motor. I couldn't find any information on the components nor a wiring diagram.
Just not worth the grief and cost to try to resurrect it. On a side note, I couldn't believe the number of anole lizard bodies I found within the motor cavity. They were really packed in there, probably 20 plus of them. If nothing else they probably restricted the flow of air through the motor making it run hotter.
 
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