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For example, if we look at a typical pump curve for 

a (15) HP – (85) GPM submersible pump – we can 

select a pump cut-in and cut-out point on the curve 

which will provide optimum pump operation.
The pump curve shows pump performance as 

its pressure rises from cut-off (

(

0

)

 head in test) to 

maximum head in feet.
On this curve, for a (15) Hp (85) GPM pump we can 

see that at approximately (100) feet the pump stops 

pumping and will pump up to (660) feet of head.
What we want to determine is at which point on the 

curve do we want to have the pump cut-in, and at 

which point on the curve do we want it to cut-out.
The pump operates in its best efficiency range at 

the mid-range of the curve.
The cut-in point can’t be too low on the curve, as this 

would cause inefficient operation. We should choose 

a point just before the curve drops off rapidly…and 

at a point still within the best efficiency range (60% to 

80%).
The pump curve for the pump selected indicates the 

total pressure range of the pump or its dynamic head 

measured in feet of head.
The pump must have enough head, or pressure 

differential to:

  Bring water from the level of the well to the 

well head at the surface of the ground.

  Provide head capacity to pressurize system 

piping to overcome elevation (static height) 

and friction (friction loss) and deliver required 

pressure.

Since the 

Well-X-Trol

®

 will control the pump 

operation throughout system pressurization, we 

must select our pump cut-in pressure and pump cut-

out pressure.

For example:

In a well with water level (240) feet down in the well, 

system pressurization by pump will be shown on the 

pump curve at some point above the intersection of 

the line indicating (240) feet of head.
In other words, at (240) feet of head we can assume 

that the pump will have brought water from the 

pumping level of the well to the surface and pressure 

in the system piping will be (0) PSIG.
We now must select a pressure range (min. to 

max.) to establish pressurized delivery of water to 

the system and that we overcome elevation (static 

height) and friction loss of the piping.

We must select a minimum pressure at the 

Well-

X-Trol

®

 location that will insure enough pressure 

to keep water flow under pressure at the top of the 

system…overcoming both the static height and the 

resistance to flow through the piping.
We’ll do this by pre-charging the 

Well-X-Trol

®

 to 

a pressure (P

1

) equal to the minimum pressure 

required at the 

Well-X-Trol

®

 location. In addition, 

we’ll select a pump cut-in pressure (P

2

) which is 

at the same pressure to start the pump whenever 

system pressure drops to this point.
We’ll assume that a minimum system pressure 

at the 

Well-X-Trol

®

 location of (30) PSIG. This 

pressure will be adequate to insure system 

pressurization to overcome elevation and friction 

loss and provide adequate pressure at the fixture.
To find this pump cut-in point on the pump curve, 

we’ll have to convert (30) PSIG to feet of head.
To convert PSIG to feet of head, we must multiply 

PSIG by (2.31).
 

30 PSIG x 2.31 = 69.3 or 70 feet of head

To locate this point on the pump curve, we must 

add 70 feet of head…the pump head required to 

pressurize the system to 30 PSIG…to the feet of 

head required to lift the water to the surface:

Minimum System Pressure 

= 70 Ft. of Head 

Plus Lift 

= 240 Ft. of Head 

 

 

* Pump cut-in point on curve  = 310 Ft. of Head

We have selected the point on the curve which will 

be the pump cut-in setting (P

2

) of 30 PSIG on the 

pump switch, and we will pre-charge the 

Well-X-

Trol

®

 to 30 PSIG (P

1

).

Now we will select the maximum pump cut-out point 

on the curve which will allow the widest possible 

pressure range without impairing pump performance 

and efficiency.

We will do this by moving up the curve to find a 

point that:
 Is just before the curve begins to “flatten” out
  And is still within the upper limits of best 

efficiency range of the pump

In this example, that point would be at the intersection 

on the curve of the horizontal line indicating (410) or 

(420) feet of head… let’s say (420) feet.
This is the point on the curve which will be the 

maximum pump cut-out for this particular pump.

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