Wiring Water Well Pumps: Play It Safe
Most of us rely on public water systems, but people who live in remote areas often need their own private water supply. According to the Virginia Department of Health, about 1 million homes in Virginia use well water. These homes are mostly in rural areas beyond the reach of public water lines. The department also reports that the number of water well pumps is growing as development spreads into rural areas.
If you are planning to install a water well pump, it’s important to install it safely. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Play it safe by hiring a professional electrician to install your pump.
What Type of Well Do You Have?
The extent of electrical wiring you’ll need depends on the type of well you have. There are three primary types, and each requires its own installation and wiring.
Drilled Well
A drilled well is the most common type. Drillers use a cable tool or a hydraulic rotary mounted on a carriage or truck. Residential drilled wells are typically 50 to 60 feet deep, but some can reach 1000 feet. Large industrial wells can be 2000 feet or more in-depth.
Driven Well
A driven well is faster to install and lower-priced than a drilled well. Well, diggers use a small pipe to dig vertically into the water-bearing ground. These wells are usually from 20 to 30 feet deep. Because they’re shallow, they can be contaminated by other water sources. It’s essential to test your water regularly if you have a driven well.
Dug Well
Traditionally, people built dug wells by hand. They would use a shovel to dig until they hit the water table and saw water coming in. They would then line the well with bricks or stones. Today, well diggers use power tools to dig wells and line them with concrete.
Wiring for Wells
If you have a well, you need an electric pump. Don’t try to install this on your own. It’s best to call a professional electrician.
Wells typically have either two-wire or three-wire electrical setups. The configuration you need depends on the horsepower of the motor on your pump and where the pump’s starting components are. Typically, three-wire configurations work for larger water well pumps that use higher horsepower motors. Two-wire setups are a good choice for the easy installation of smaller pumps.
Two-Wire Configuration
A two-wire setup uses two black wires and a green ground wire. In this setup, the starting components are contained inside the motor. This makes installation fast and easy, but it also means the pump is hard to reach if you need to repair it. If any of the parts fail, you have to replace the whole pump.
Three-Wire Configuration
This setup uses black, red, yellow, and green wires. It places the motor’s starting components in a separate box that’s usually mounted close to the pump. This setup is more difficult and costly to install. It is also much easier to fix if something goes wrong. You only need to repair or replace individual parts instead of the entire motor.
Call SESCOS for Safe Wiring of Your Water Well Pumps
If you’re using well water, call SESCOS for the fast, safe installation of your electric pump. We can advise you on the wiring setup, check your wiring, and ensure your water well pump works smoothly. Contact SESCOS for expert help with all your electrical needs.
