tracking running time

[kbs2244]

I have a project going where I need to know how much time in 24 hours a 240 VAC well pump runs.
Pretty typical wiring to the pump.
Double circuit breakers feed a pressure switch that goes through a double contact switch then through the basement wall and out to the pump.

This is a one time deal so I don’t want to spend mega-bucks.

The last time I needed to do this I just wired a electric clock into the circuit, set to noon, and came back at the same time each day to see what time it showed. That equaled hours run.
But you cannot find a 120 VAC analog clock anymore.
And the digital ones reset to zeros with every power off.

Any ideas?
Is there anything I could rent?
I will need to average out a week or 10 days of use.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You need an hour meter that runs on 240vac. Here's one: http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70115355 Just hook it up in parallel with the pump motor.

 

[kbs2244]

Thanks.
That looks like it should do it.
And the $$ are OK

One question the data sheet didn't address.
It has 2 lugs.
When I used the analog clock I just alligator clipped bridging the hot and the neutral.
With this can I hook one wire to a hot and another to a ground?

In other words, the power doesn’t have to go through the meter?
(Power in, through the meter, power out.)
From a hot to ground will tell it there is power on the hot without passing the load through the meter?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Since you have a 240vac pump, if you use a 240vac hour meter it just gets connected to the two hot leads going to the pump.

 

[TractorJeff]

If you went HOT to Ground, you could get away with a 120v time clock which you could reuse later on a different project.

 

[katy]

Check out the thrift (we used to call them second hand) stores for your "120 VAC analog clock".

 

[kbs2244]

I never thought of the thrift store.
I will check it out.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

But you cannot find a 120 VAC analog clock anymore.

Any ideas?
Is there anything I could rent?
I will need to average out a week or 10 days of use.

We get 110 VAC analog clocks all the time from Graingers.

Tommy

 

[rsanter]

What state are you in?
They make data loggers that will do exactly what you want. Often utilities will loan them to you to hold you out.
SCE and PGE do that in CA

Bob

 

[kbs2244]

I found a clock at the local Goodwill.
I am home free.
Thanks for the ideas.