Rick wrote:

"cjkeenan" wrote in message
oups.com...
no the breaker is not tripped. I turn it off and on. I rarely run
the
sprinker during the day

If you're comfortable enough doing this, and have a clamp on ammmeter,
measure the current draw before you switch the breaker. If the pump is
locked up or it's running but just not pumping anything, it will still
draw current. If there's no current draw you have an electrical
problem.

Since you say the problem doesn't occur and flow and pressure are
adequate during daytime use it doesn't sound like a low water table.
The pump runs and cycles more during the day from normal usage. From
your description it only happens when the pump has not run for quite a
while..

Well, actually it sounds to me like it may be the other way 'round...the
pump's running continously at night after someone flushes the commode
and it doesn't stop running. He gets up and he's lost water during the
night. That appears to me to be a good possibility of losing head or
somesuch...