3 Pumps In 3 Days

[Marvo]

I had a request from one of our suppliers who, from time to time, we also assist with their warranty claims. They had an 'electrician' who purchased a 3kW borehole pump and returned it next day as being faulty. The supplier provided a replacement pump and did a post mortem on the returned item in the hope of shedding some light on what the problem might be. They had an idea it was an electrical issue but that was as far as they'd got.

Next day the guy was back again with the second pump claiming he'd taken it to site and tested it in a pond before he installed it down the borehole only to find that it also had a problem and the start relay was chattering. Apparently they begrudgingly gave him a third pump which they tested in the workshop in front of him before he left on his merry way. That afternoon they received a phonecall saying the pump ran for about 15 minutes and it's also now faulty.

They contacted me to go to the site which is about 120Km away and please check the installation for anything that might be causing problems.

Here's a few pictures of the installation;

The supply cable for the borehole pump was plugged into an external socket that was mounted on a large concrete water holding tank. The socket had been installed directly off an existing 2.5mm supply that was for a level control and alarm that is in turn run from an outbuilding 130 meters away. The outbuilding is supplied on a 2.5mm SWA from a residence that was another 50 meters away from the outbuilding.


From the socket shown above the cable was run through the bush and undergrowth for approx 180 meters to the borehole control box which contains the overload and and start relay.



The control box then supplies the pump which is another 10 meters away across the surface then 160 meters down in the bore hole.



I noticed a couple of quality touches such as the warning cone which I thought was ironically suitable and the last 5 meters before the borehole was into conduit.


I was kinda curious if he'd used conduit inside the hole or whether his unsupported flat twin was sufficient on its own for the descent but I was itching to get back out of there before I bumped into him in case he wanted to discuss the finer points of the installation with a fellow professional.


I delivered the shortest report I think I've ever written and gave them a couple of dozen photos. For some strange reason they've declined to give him a fourth pump under warranty.

 

[danzor]

So whats the problem :rofl::rofl:

 

[Marvo]

Lol, my thoughts exactly. Maybe the wooden post being skew is causing problems with the operation of the start relay.

 

[Darkwood]

Id be sending a bill for your time etc as they clearly have bodged it up.... you investigated cleared your backs now send them a hefty bill.... this is what happens when you get a bodgit and scarper in.... TBH made me lol those pics..

 

[Geordie Spark]

3 pumps in 3 days??

I would be too ashamed to tell anybody if it were me.

The day I fail to manage 3 gooduns in less than 4 seconds after 4 bottles o Broon is the day I'll know I'm really past my best

 

[Rockingit]

I'm guessing that what he really needs is a 12v pump......no tx required?!

 

[UNG]

Reminds a bit of a guy I occasionally do some work for he has a plant hire company and got one of the workshop lads to go out and get him 100 metres of 2.5 swa cable for a supply to his stables the lad did question the csa but was told he didn't want all this electrician crap and just get the cable he asked for, some months later he was doing some work around the stables and needed some plant the lad who had questioned the csa of the cable dropped it off plugged it in and watched his bosses face as the stable lighting dimmed and not a lot happened it was tongue in cheek that's why you do all the electrician crap. The lad who questioned it is a good mate of mine and at the time it was being installed he told me about it and I think I calculated the maximum load at 0.2A to stay within the permitted volt drop

 

[Guest111]

The problem with a lot of people is they just don't understand electrics,they want to run something and if they can be bothered they look up a cable size for the given load and completely forget about volt drop.Recently someone asked me about putting a pond pump in,it was only a small pump but a hell of a distance from the supply.Knowing the guy doesn't like spending money I said that without doing the calcs I thought he'd need a 6mm swa and the cable alone would cost several hundred pounds.His reply "oh I won't bother then"

 

[Sintra]

Absolutely disgraceful all that lovely sunshine.

 

[Rockingit]

Reminds me of when I saw someone I know trying to run power out to his cabin - about 200m from the source, using 4mm. According to him it was perfectly safe as there was another DB half way (as a junction). I gave up.

 

[Marvo]

Yep, even the basic concepts of electrical circuit design are lost on some, the installation made me laugh as well.

I have no problem getting handsomely paid for my day out in the sunshine by the pump supplier, they even gave me spending money to cover lunch on the road and they filled my car when I got back using their petrol card. I assume they'll now start fighting with the installer to try and recoup some of their losses...not my problem to be honest.

 

[Knobhead]

Marvo, I've told you before. STOP FOLLOWING ME AROUND!

 

[High Tower]

Marvo, I've told you before. STOP FOLLOWING ME AROUND!

I can tell it's not yours, it hasn't been converted to 11kv, and there's no sign of you indulging in your fetish for exposed busbars, right where someone can stand on it in their flip flops lol

 

[HandySparks]

I can tell it's not yours, it hasn't been converted to 11kv, and there's no sign of you indulging in your fetish for exposed busbars, right where someone can stand on it in their flip flops lol

Now there's a thought. Convert up to 11kV, then back down again at the far end. No need to change the cable and VD problem solved. (Might be pushing the voltage rating of the cable a little though.)