Causes, cures & how to prevent well pump wiring damage: cuts, nicks, abrasion, broken splices in the well casing.

This article series describes troubleshooting submersible well pump wiring problems.

Causes Of & Cures For Broken Submersible Well pump Wiring

Question: Why would the wires in my well keep breaking?

2091 03 05 Anonymous said:

Why would the wires in my well keep breaking

Illustration: a submersible pump wiring cable guard can protect against cable abrasion damage, tears, breaks inside the well casing.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Reply: Five Common Causes of broken submersible well pump wiring when wires break in the well

1. Inadequate taping, poor support of the wire

en route down the well, usually taped to piping, wire may not be taped sufficiently strongly or not tapes securely along the full drop of piping in the well.

This is probably the most-common cause of broken or damaged pump wiring.

You can also install a well pump cable protector that keeps the piping and wiring centered in the well casing - as shown in our drawing.

2. Excessive or abnormal well pipe torquing or twisting

when the pump starts and stops - this can also break well piping or cause piping leaks;

special fittings are available for attachment to well piping to control twisting or torquing of the piping in the well casing as the submersible pump operates.

See SUBMERSIBLE PUMP TORQUE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS for help stopping well pipe twist or torque damage problems to both piping and wiring.

See also WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS

Below: well pump wiring loose in the well casing such as shown in our photo invites abrasion damage to pump wiring.

3. Dropping well pipe:

pump or piping sliding down a bit in well, while the pump wire is bound tightly at well casing top - can pull the wiring apart somewhere along its length

4. Poorly-made splice connections

anywhere in the well piping.

Our photo (below) shows a worker from Rasmussen well service, Two Harbors MN, re-making the pump wiring splices at a well head in Two Harbors.

5. Abnormal short-cycling of the well pump,

combined with torquing of the pump and piping in the well, combined with wire not properly routed, thus being abraded and worn by rubbing on well casing, piping, other contact surface.

When you pull the pump and wiring check the wiring along its length for signs of abrasion or twisting.

Also inspect the well casing (use a well camera) to inspect for protrusions, obstructions, abrasion at piping supports or torque controllers.

See details at WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - home

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Continue reading at WATER PUMP WIRING REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• SUBMERSIBLE PUMP TORQUE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS - stop twisting pump causing wiring or piping damage
• WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH
• WATER PUMP PROTECTION SWITCH
• WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH
• WATER PUMP WIRING DAMAGE
• WATER PUMP WIRING REPAIR

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP WIRING DAMAGE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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