Karl Townsend wrote:
My well is located 400+ feet from the storage tanks and pressure switch in
the basement. I buried a 12-2 romex with the pipe 22 years ago. This spring
one of the wires shorted so I made a ******* hookup up using the ground and
the remaining good wire. Today the second one shorted, so I made a double
******* - hot from power in house to one of the wires and cut the other two
loose. Pick up a ground at the well. Works for today, need to put on high
priority to repair.

Using underground romex again will push $150. Wire has gotten spendy. I see
underground irrigation cable in McMaster Carr #8045k11 that's rated for 30
volt. My question, would a 24 VAC supply in the basement powering 24 volt
relay at the well contactor be a reliable setup? As in last 20 years?
What with lightning, probably not, the little transformers get
fried. I'd buy 3, so I had 2 spares. Then, you'll get your 20
years. As long as the cable is good for direct burial, and the
wire sized correctly for the control circuit, there should be no
problem.
This
would save $ on wire and I wouldn't have to bury it more than 6 inches deep.
Well, maybe. Rodents and all sorts of things are constantly
digging at that depth.

Jon