Submersible 3 wire well pump surge protector

[Andybull]

I want to install a surge protector at the well head for my 240 volt, 3 wire submersible pump. Is there such a thing and if so, what is the name and model number? By three wire I mean, a wire for the red, black, yellow leads plus a ground.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Surge suppressor would go on the line side of the starter. Where the power comes in.

Ive never seen a surge suppressor for a 3-wire pump... and i used to work for a pump company.

 

[Andybull]

I installed one on the line side of the starter.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I installed one on the line side of the starter.

so you want another one on the pump?

 

[Andybull]

so you want another one on the pump?

Yes if it’ll help to keep the pump from surges past the control box, but no if there’s no point in it.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Surge suppressor would go on the line side of the starter."

Client of mine lost 2 pumps due to ground hit lightning. Placing a protector on the line side is not going to protect a pump from this.
Put together a simple lightning protector with MOV for the client. Placed (6) MOVs (300v) in parallel on each leg of a 3 wire circuit. Placed it in a metal enclosure in case of fire. No more pump losses.

 

[sberry]

Metal or plastic casing?

 

[Andybull]

"Surge suppressor would go on the line side of the starter."

Client of mine lost 2 pumps due to ground hit lightning. Placing a protector on the line side is not going to protect a pump from this.
Put together a simple lightning protector with MOV for the client. Placed (6) MOVs (300v) in parallel on each leg of a 3 wire circuit. Placed it in a metal enclosure in case of fire. No more pump losses.

Do you have a pic?

 

[pcmeiners]

Similar to this, but with one line feed missing for single phase. In the diagram they show 3 devices, same with mine, only mine has 6 MOVs per line. Must be a Metal box for interior placement in case the MOVs go up in flames. If you put an arrestor, buy the cheapest/largest 300-350v MOVS. Surge suppressor should be a close to the well as practical

http://www.psihq.com/tvss/UnitedPower/United Power - Modular Surge Protection Devices.htm

Also had 3 of these setup just like/along with the MOVs for faster response.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Clare-G...370962?hash=item465b69cc52:g:60wAAOSw5cNYZgHU

 

[Andybull]

Metal or plastic casing?

Metal

 

[Andybull]

Similar to this, but with one line feed missing for single phase. In the diagram they show 3 devices, same with mine, only mine has 6 MOVs per line. Must be a Metal box for interior placement in case the MOVs go up in flames. If you put an arrestor, buy the cheapest/largest 300-350v MOVS. Surge suppressor should be a close to the well as practical

http://www.psihq.com/tvss/UnitedPower/United Power - Modular Surge Protection Devices.htm

Also had 3 of these setup just like/along with the MOVs for faster response.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Clare-G...370962?hash=item465b69cc52:g:60wAAOSw5cNYZgHU

Thanks!

 

[sberry]

Ok, metal. Make sure the electric service is grounded to the steel casing. You dont want a strike trying to find its way down hole thru the pump. I have seen failed systems eventually find the well as the only place which would have been fine if it was the casing and not the supply pipe.
I got one I got to fix before it bites me, need to weld a lug right on it.

 

[sberry]

You need to ground the well equipment, dont really want to ground to it so to speak. You want to ground to the well casing, ideally a bigger wire than with the electric supply.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

"Surge suppressor would go on the line side of the starter."

Client of mine lost 2 pumps due to ground hit lightning. Placing a protector on the line side is not going to protect a pump from this.
Put together a simple lightning protector with MOV for the client. Placed (6) MOVs (300v) in parallel on each leg of a 3 wire circuit. Placed it in a metal enclosure in case of fire. No more pump losses.

and that happened because the lightning found a better pathway via the pump and EGC on the circuit.

If it was a metal well casing, it shouldve been the best place for the lightning to go.

make sure the casing is properly bonded. many arent.

 

[sberry]

Exactly.

 

[pcmeiners]

"If it was a metal well casing, it shouldve been the best place for the lightning to go."

Even with a metal casing acting as a Faraday cage, this not always true. If you get a close ground hit, ground paths get overwhelmed by the amount of power, which the grounds can not dissipate fast enough, then the high voltage jumps to the power leads. This can happen in even in metal electric conduits.

 

[sberry]

I spose it can happen that way but I bet that its the other way around thats the problem most of the time,

 

[pcmeiners]

I spose it can happen that way but I bet that its the other way around thats the problem most of the time,

You are correct, most of the time a lightning hit is not close enough to jump from a metal conduit or well casing to power legs to cause the issue I described, but for the sake of $15.00 in MOVs/gas arrestor, I really do not want to replace deep well pumps. Dealt with this issue with 2 pumps, and network devices on both ends of Ethernet cables, in a metal conduit, between buildings.