Siemens GFCI breaker for Pentair IntelliFlo VS trips immediately when flipped on

[HDClown]

Pentair IntelliFlo VS 3050 directly connected to a Siemens QF220A 20A dual pole breaker in an Intermatic PE20000 load center. I just noticed the pump wasn't running today but don't know how long that has been going on. Couldn't have been more than a day or two. The breaker trips immediately when flipped on.

I removed the 2 wires to the pump itself and the breaker doesn't trip when flipped on with nothing connected to it.. General electric troubleshooting would indicate an issue with the pump as this is the only device on the breaker. There is no signs of water infiltration at the panel or in the electrical junction box at the pump, and it's a straight shot between them with wires in liquidtight conduit.

Read some old posts about how VSP's can be finicky with breakers, recommendation was to use Siemens (which I have). Any chance the breaker side is bad? Local Home Depot has them in stock for $80. Is it worth trying a new one? Doesn't seem to much else I can do today outside of thise.

Otherwise, it seems like my next step is to call Pentair on Monday and see what they say. I'm 4 months past the 3 year warranty and it doesn't seem like an electrician is going to be of much use here. Looking at parts, the entire variable speed control system unit (P/N 353251) is $600 online with an entire replacement pump being $900. Found from this thread that I can make a $200 replacement keypad assembly work, but I don't know if this is the issue or not. I don't see any signs of infiltration of water into the keypad, but I haven't pulled the assembly off either.

 

[Jimrahbe]

hd,

As you have said, it is either the pump or the circuit breaker.

The original problem with the circuit breaker tripping with a VS pumps was more intermittent and random. That does not sound like the problem you are having.

I would want to try a new breaker before buying a new pump or control head. I suggest that you buy a cheap 20 amp non-GFCI breaker and try it.

If the pump runs, that eliminates the pump and control head from having a major failure. It could still be GFCI related, but it would make me more comfortable spending $80 bucks on a circuit breaker.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[HDClown]

Good call on going cheap breaker to test. $10 for a Siemens 20A dual pole. Swapped it in and pump fired up just fine, so letting it run that like for now. Will go back and get the 20A GFCI one and hopefully it doesn't trip immediately, as that would indicate some ground fault being detected in the pump control head.

I added in a Square D SDSA1175 SPD onto the pump breaker while I was working on it. Wasn't sure if these are rated to cover an entire sub panel, which is why I did it this way, but I also have breaker that runs my IntelliChlor and LED pool light, so would like protection on everything if I can re-wire it that way.

 

[Jimrahbe]

hd,

As long at the SPD is wired across both L1 and L2 inputs to your panel, then everything fed by the panel is protected. You don't need one for each circuit breaker.

Glad you got the pump running for now.. Let's just hope it is a bad GFCI breaker.

If not, then I would open the control head and look for any water intrusion.. Might be able to fix it, and if not, you are not any worse off than you already are..

Thanks,

Jim R.