On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 19:34:14 -0500, bookie213277 wrote:

Kicks on at 30, kicks off at
50. Have 35 pounds of pressure in the tank. Need to know is this normal
for the pump to kick on so much, and if it will hurt the pump? Thank you
very much.

Yes, over time, short cycling (cutting on every time you use a little water)
will damage the pump.

According to what you have posted, the tank pressure should be about 28 psi,
not 35. Pressure tank should be about 2 psi *less* than the cut-in pressure
for the pump - 30 psi cut-in pressure = 28 psi tank pressure. To set the
system to use the 35 psi already in the tank you'd need to raise the cut-in
pressure to 37 psi by adjusting the pressure switch, which I don't recommend
unless you're unhappy with the household water pressure.

The reason for tank pressure being lower than cut-in pressure is that you
want to allow the maximum amount of water to get into the tank before the
pump cuts off. The air then pressurizes the water as you use it - the more in
the tank, the more you can use before the pressure reaches the cut-in
pressure and the cycle repeats.

Tank pressure is easy enough to set following the steps below:

1) Turn off pump and drain water from tank - draining the tank is
*important*, there must be no water in the tank to get a proper setting

2) To lower pressure, depress center of air valve (should look the same as
one on your automobile tires) - to raise pressure use a tire pump or
compressor to add air to the tank. I highly recommend an electric air pump or
compressor as you'll pump a long time on a bicycle pump to accomplish what
you want when raising the pressure.

3) Check pressure to make sure it is correct - 2 psi below cut-in pressure

4) Turn on pump

Later, Mike
(substitute strickland in the obvious location to reply directly)
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