submersible irrigation pumps Cancel The title field is required!

1. Greg Cormier

   

   0 posts
   
   6/5/2011 5:06 AM

   I have two 50 hp submersible motors that short out every 3 months or so. I have had 3 different companies try to figure out the problem, Has anyone else experienced this before? I have replaced 5 motors in the last two years.

   
   
   
   
2. Hardy Andrew

   
   6/5/2011 7:06 AM

   Is your system hydraulic or electric? Could be your panel. If its cycling too much to keep lines energized. Or you may need a smaller PM pump to keep the system energized so that the large pumps don't have to cycle. We had the same issue and were forced to replace our electrical panel because of the cycling on our hydraulic system. We also added a booster pump onto our 1/2 inch hydraulic line. Only 55,000 dollars. But we were taking our 50hp pumps in every year to be re-wound. Sounds eerily familiar.

   
   
   
   
3. Greg Cormier

   

   0 posts
   
   6/5/2011 7:06 PM

   We have a 1 hp pressure maintenance pump that keeps the big pumps from turning on too much. We have an electric system also that holds pretty tight when we are not using it. Thank you for the input though. I am hoping to get to the bottom of this to stop the issue. I figure it has to be power related but I am not sure what to test or where to start.
   
   Thanks
   Greg

   
   
   
   
4. Timothy Walker

   

   0 posts
   
   6/5/2011 9:06 PM

   I am going through the same thing. Shorted a 25hp last july and a 50hp in August.
   
   Things to consider:
   1. Motor sitting in debris at the bottom of the wet well.
   2. Pumping debris.
   3. Redcuce cycling.
   
   I had a vac pump out a lot of debris from the bottom of the wet well this spring. The motors were sitting in a considerable amount of debris that accumulated over the last 21 years the system has beeen online. Considerable silt and debris is pumped through the system due to a faulty screening process. Regular cycling takes place due to not having a PM pump.
   
   This spring at startup the pump picked up a stone and locked the pump. We now had tp replace the 25hp pump this spring. The motor was replaced last summer.
   
   For 2011 I will have a new 50 hp motor and pump and a new 25hp pump.
   
   Tim Walker, CGCS
   Philadelphia, PA
   timwalker@comcast.net

   
   
   
   
5. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   6/6/2011 7:06 AM

   I have a submersible turbine system of 2-50's and a 25 hp jockey pump, NOT a fan of this set up at all....I've had all 3 motors replaced in the last 5 seasons or so. I was discussing this problem with a board commissioner I work with, had he had an electrician come out and find out the not only did it get installed wrong, that little or no grounding was installed. The installers had used a single 5/8" ground rod for a true 480 3 phase setup...go figure.
   
   Needless to say, I now have been hooked to the power grid grounding and neutral, I have 60 feet of 3/4" ground rod, and the station itself is now separately grounded.....
   
   Start there...be surprised what that cures. I was also told by my pump repair company that submersible pumps do not VFD's....
   
   Douglas Eggert
   Sanctuary Golf Course
   New Lenox, Il

   
   
   
   
6. Young Christopher P

   
   6/8/2011 7:06 PM

   For the previous poster what did they mean by submersible pumps do not vfd's? I am actually going through a pump issue right now that has to do with a submersible pump that is connected to a vfd. I had the VFD drive fry itself Friday evening and just had it replaced. When they went to start the pump it was connected to, which was a 40hp pump installed a little over a year ago, it was found that the pump is seized up. We now have to pull the pump to figure out what is wrong with it. We are thinking that when the pump seized it caused the drive to fry but not 100% sure. Well back to my original question, were they saying not to have a VFD on a submersible pump? Gotta love having pump issues when its in the 90s all week.

   
   
   
   
7. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   6/9/2011 8:06 AM

   My pump repair company told me that submersible pumps are not rated for VFD's...they haven't and won't recommend setting one up that way. Submersible motors need to operate at full rpms.
   
   I was going to set my station up to VFD after the last repair, and repair company advised against it, even though the original manufacturer said "it shouldn't be a problem". I wasn't too thrilled with their response considering the past problems I've had with this station, so I'm still using the original design of butterfly valve controls for pressure regulation.
   
   My service company is Layne Christensen out of Aurora, Il. They have done excellent work for my course for the last 5 years.
   
   Sorry for my bad grammar in my previous post.
   
   Douglas Eggert
   Sanctuary Golf Course
   New Lenox, IL

   
   
   
   
8. Greg Cormier

   

   0 posts
   
   6/17/2011 7:06 PM

   We have submersible pumps on a sled in the middle of our pond. They are both VFD. I know several stations have been designed this way by the local company that did this one. That doesn't mean that maybe they shouldn't be vfd. I hoping to get to the bottom of this problem very soon. We just replaced out 5th motor in 3 years. They are frying themselves and seizing the motor. I am working with the power company also, to see if the voltage coming in is correct.