"BGBevill" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I recently had my well pump go bad after 18 years of trouble free
service.
My son and I were able to pull it out and I was able to get another pump
almost
identical and replace it. We replaced the pressure switch and the air
tank at
the same time. Since then, the points on the pressure switch have burned
up
twice about a month apart. I have checked the pressure on the air tank
and it
is 26-27 psi with the power killed to the pump and no water pressure on
the
gauge. The switch is set to drop out at 50 psi and pull in at 30 psi. I
read
that the tank pressure needs to be 2 to 3 lbs lower than the pull in
pressure
and I have that. Can anyone shed any light as to why my switches are only
lasting a month? What does the size of the tank have to do with it? I
put
back a 42 gallon tank that appeared to be the same size as the one we
removed.
The pump is a 1 hp submersible pump 390 feet down in the well. I am
wondering
if I need to upsize the air tank? Any help will be appreciated greatly.

thanks,
Bobby

Hiya, Bobby.

Without thinking about it too hard, I would suspect the check valve between
the tank and well head is not holding--this causes leakage at this point
and has the effect of spinning the pump turbines backwardes and at startup
the cooresponding hi amps draw ( yes in this situation its acting as an
unregulated alternator untill connected ) is very hard on the pressure
switch contact points.

HTH

--

SVL