7
Pump
Troubleshooting
CONDITION
Red light comes on at control box.
PROBABLE CAUSE
This indicates some water has leaked past the lower seal and has entered the seal
chamber and made contact with the electrode probe. Pump must be
removed for replacement of lower seal. This preventive repair will save an
expensive motor.
CONDITION
Overload trips at control box and alarm buzzer or flashing red light comes on due
to high water level in basin.
PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Push in on red reset button to reset overload. If overload trips again after short
run, pump has some damage and must be removed from basin for
checking.
2. Trouble may be from clogged impeller causing motor to overload or could be
from failed motor.
3. Trouble may be from faulty component in control box. Always check
control box before removing pump.
CONDITION
Yellow run light stays on continuously.
PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Indicates H-O-A switch may be in the Hand position.
2. Level control switch may have failed, causing pump to continue to operate
when water is below lower control.
3. Impeller may be partially clogged, causing pump to operate at very reduced
capacity.
4. Gate valve or check valve may be clogged, causing low pump flow.
5. Pump may be air logged.
CONDITION
Circuit breaker trips.
PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Reset breaker by pushing completely down on handle then back to On
position. If breaker trips again in few seconds, it indicates excessive
load probably caused by a short in the motor or control box. Check out
instructions given with control box before pulling pump.
2. If this condition happens after an electrical storm, motor or control box
may be damaged by lightning.
3. Resistance reading of the motor with lead wires disconnected from the
control box can determine if trouble is in motor or control box.
CONDITION
Pump is noisy and pump rate is low.
PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Impeller may be partially clogged with some foreign objects, causing noise
and overload on the motor.
CONDITION
Grease and solids have accumulated around pump and will not pump out
of basin.
PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Lower control switch may be set too high.
2. Run pump on Hand operation for several minutes with small amount of
water running into basin to clean out solids and grease. This allows pump
to break suction and surge which will break up the solids. If level switch
is set properly, this condition generally will not occur.
3. Trash and grease may have accumulated around floats, causing pump to
operate erratically.
Checking for
Moisture in
Motor:
Use an ohmmeter or a Megger
and set on highest scale.
Readings on the large power cord
between any of the conductors
red, black or white to the green
conductor or to the motor housing
should be greater than 1,000,000
ohms (megohm).
A motor will probably run with a
lower reading, but if the pump is
out of service and the value of the
reading is below 1,000,000 ohms
(1 megohm), the motor housing
and stator should be removed and
baked in a drying oven at 220°F.
This service work should be done
only at an authorized service
station.
NOTE: Readings should be
taken with the line leads
disconnected from the control
panel.
Resistance of Windings:
Every motor winding has a fixed
resistance. The windings must
check close to the values given in
the tables to operate properly.
See the motor electrical data
chart. Use an ohmmeter and set
to the one ohm scale. Read the
resistance with the motor leads
disconnected from the pump
control panel.