Wheel lines

[Brent]

I have a friend who irrigates with wheel lines. Problem is, if you turn on the main line valve all the way when first starting up, it blows the well pump circuit breaker. If you open the valve slowly it works fine. Any ideas?

[Eugene]

First thought, breaker is undersized for the irrigation pump's electric motor.

Could be a number of problems. Line voltage not up to standard. On 220/440 volt, could also be that one electrical wire supplying electricity to the pump is not equal to the other one/two.

Amp probe to each wire supplying voltage to the pump's motor. Record each wire's amperage during motor start up and then running. Also check each wire's voltage.

Try the following: motor's rated horsepower times 750 watts = ??? watts. ??? watts divided by line voltage = amperage.

Example: 10 HP times 750 = 7500 watts. 7500 watts divided by 220 = 34.09 amps. In this example the amperage would top out at close to 34 or 35 amps on motor start up.

[Brent]

Eugene,

What the two of us know about electricity you could put in a thimble. Think it might be 440. Neighbor decided to call an electrician, which I think might be a good idea.

[daddydip]

open the valve slowly