About Well Pumps

Well Pumps and Power

Just like other electrical appliances, well pumps need power in order to work. Where they draw that power from, depends on the type of pump. As we saw on the preceding page, some submersible well pumps use energy from the sun, others from the wind, and others still from water. We however, will be focusing on conventional pumps that use AC power.

Most submersible well pumps require 230 volts of AC 1 phase electricity. Pumps can be of 3-wire or 2-wire variety. All 3-wire units require a control box which includes motor starting relay, thermal overload and capacitors, surface mounted for easy access. 2-wire motors however, have no external control box like the 3-wire units; all of the components of the control box are inside the motor. The price is generally the same for both types. Since neither has a performance advantage over the other, choosing a model really boils down to aesthetics.

Well Pumps and Pressure Tanks

The standard utility-powered water delivery system consists of a submersible pump in the well delivering water into a pressure tank. A pressure tank extends the time between pumping cycles by saving up some pressurized water for delivery later. This system usually solves any freezing problems by placing the pump deep inside the well, and the pressure tank indoors. The down side is that the pump must produce enough volume to keep up with any potential demand, or the pressure tank will be depleted and the pressure will drop dramatically. This requires a 1/3 hp pump minimally, and usually 1/2 hp or larger.