How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

Any suggestions for how to debug why a booster pump inside the pumphouse
won't turn back on to pressurize water for use inside the house?

The tanks ran dry because I had turned off the well pump at the circuit
breaker because the water tanks were overflowing because the Clorox bottle
switch setup inside broke a rope.

When I turned the well pump back on, the tanks filled with water (and I
repaired the broken rope) but the booster pump won't turn on.

So I have lots of water but near zero water pressure.

Any idea how to debug a non-working booster pump?

Here are more details for you to help me figure out the next step!

The pump stopped working when the water tanks ran dry:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water7.jpg
I don't see where the "thermal reset" might be:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water8.jpg
Inexplicably, the gauge shows about 64psi:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water14.jpg
I uncovered the relays which seem to be unbroken & unburnt:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water15.jpg
Outside, I fixed the "level indicator" (the cause of running dry):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water16.jpg
The pump indicates it has a thermal shutoff somewhere?
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water17.jpg
The pressure tank seems to be pressurized (but there is no pressure):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water18.jpg
Luckily, there's electricity inside if I need it:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water19.jpg
At this point, the tanks are full of water - but no pressure!
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water20.jpg

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks randry (and were refilled)?
 

On 6/28/2018 10:46 PM, Danny D. wrote:
Any suggestions for how to debug why a booster pump inside the pumphouse
won't turn back on to pressurize water for use inside the house?

The tanks ran dry because I had turned off the well pump at the circuit
breaker because the water tanks were overflowing because the Clorox bottle
switch setup inside broke a rope.

When I turned the well pump back on, the tanks filled with water (and I
repaired the broken rope) but the booster pump won't turn on.

So I have lots of water but near zero water pressure.

Any idea how to debug a non-working booster pump?

Here are more details for you to help me figure out the next step!

The pump stopped working when the water tanks ran dry:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water7.jpg
I don't see where the "thermal reset" might be:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water8.jpg
Inexplicably, the gauge shows about 64psi:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water14.jpg
I uncovered the relays which seem to be unbroken & unburnt:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water15.jpg
Outside, I fixed the "level indicator" (the cause of running dry):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water16.jpg
The pump indicates it has a thermal shutoff somewhere?
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water17.jpg
The pressure tank seems to be pressurized (but there is no pressure):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water18.jpg
Luckily, there's electricity inside if I need it:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water19.jpg
At this point, the tanks are full of water - but no pressure!
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water20.jpg

Any kind of low pressure shut off switch on booster pump? I have one on
my well and if power goes out and we use water and lose pressure I have
to reset it when power comes on.

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks randry (and were refilled)?
 

On Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 10:46:54 PM UTC-4, Danny D. wrote:
Any suggestions for how to debug why a booster pump inside the pumphouse
won't turn back on to pressurize water for use inside the house?

The tanks ran dry because I had turned off the well pump at the circuit
breaker because the water tanks were overflowing because the Clorox bottle
switch setup inside broke a rope.

When I turned the well pump back on, the tanks filled with water (and I
repaired the broken rope) but the booster pump won't turn on.

So I have lots of water but near zero water pressure.

Any idea how to debug a non-working booster pump?

Here are more details for you to help me figure out the next step!

The pump stopped working when the water tanks ran dry:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water7.jpg
I don't see where the "thermal reset" might be:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water8.jpg
Inexplicably, the gauge shows about 64psi:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water14.jpg
I uncovered the relays which seem to be unbroken & unburnt:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water15.jpg
Outside, I fixed the "level indicator" (the cause of running dry):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water16.jpg
The pump indicates it has a thermal shutoff somewhere?
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water17.jpg
The pressure tank seems to be pressurized (but there is no pressure):
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water18.jpg
Luckily, there's electricity inside if I need it:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water19.jpg
At this point, the tanks are full of water - but no pressure!
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_water20.jpg

You know what Deep Throat said? "Follow the money"
You need to follow the voltage.

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

On Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:09:36 -0700 (PDT), trader_4 wrote:

You need to follow the voltage.

Sorry I haven't reported back on the home-repair solution!

I solved it as advised by following the voltage back from the jet pump to
the breaker to a solenoid to the tank into the tank to the float, which was
the problem. The tank-full/tank-empty float switch was stuck in the
tank-empty position.

There are 4 related boxes for the well operation:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well01.jpg

The middle two are relays that turn different motors on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well02.jpg

Apparently the L2 was not turning the jet pump on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well03.jpg

Pushing with a stick proved the relay itself was working:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well04.jpg

Shorting the L2 in the relay proved the relay worked just fine.
The switch controlling L2 was stuck open.

Lifting the float out of the tank and putting it back in the tank solved
the problem.

Apparently, when the tank went dry, the float in the tank that tells the
jet pump that there is no water got stuck in the open position.

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

Danny D. posted for all of us...



On Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:09:36 -0700 (PDT), trader_4 wrote:

You need to follow the voltage.

Sorry I haven't reported back on the home-repair solution!

I solved it as advised by following the voltage back from the jet pump to
the breaker to a solenoid to the tank into the tank to the float, which was
the problem. The tank-full/tank-empty float switch was stuck in the
tank-empty position.

There are 4 related boxes for the well operation:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well01.jpg

The middle two are relays that turn different motors on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well02.jpg

Apparently the L2 was not turning the jet pump on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well03.jpg

Pushing with a stick proved the relay itself was working:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well04.jpg

Shorting the L2 in the relay proved the relay worked just fine.
The switch controlling L2 was stuck open.

Lifting the float out of the tank and putting it back in the tank solved
the problem.

Apparently, when the tank went dry, the float in the tank that tells the
jet pump that there is no water got stuck in the open position.

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.

Now take a shower & chill out :-)

--
Tekkie

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks randry (and were refilled)?
 

On Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 4:39:04 AM UTC-4, Danny D. wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:09:36 -0700 (PDT), trader_4 wrote:

You need to follow the voltage.

Sorry I haven't reported back on the home-repair solution!

I solved it as advised by following the voltage back from the jet pump to
the breaker to a solenoid to the tank into the tank to the float, which was
the problem. The tank-full/tank-empty float switch was stuck in the
tank-empty position.

There are 4 related boxes for the well operation:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well01.jpg

The middle two are relays that turn different motors on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well02.jpg

Apparently the L2 was not turning the jet pump on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well03.jpg

Pushing with a stick proved the relay itself was working:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well04.jpg

Shorting the L2 in the relay proved the relay worked just fine.
The switch controlling L2 was stuck open.

Lifting the float out of the tank and putting it back in the tank solved
the problem.

Apparently, when the tank went dry, the float in the tank that tells the
jet pump that there is no water got stuck in the open position.

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.


It worked for those WAPO reporters too.

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

On Sun, 1 Jul 2018 08:38:58 +0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote:

I solved it as advised by following the voltage back from the jet pump to
the breaker to a solenoid to the tank into the tank to the float, which was
the problem. The tank-full/tank-empty float switch was stuck in the
tank-empty position.

There are 4 related boxes for the well operation:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well01.jpg

The middle two are relays that turn different motors on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well02.jpg

Apparently the L2 was not turning the jet pump on:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well03.jpg

Pushing with a stick proved the relay itself was working:
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_well04.jpg

Shorting the L2 in the relay proved the relay worked just fine.
The switch controlling L2 was stuck open.

Lifting the float out of the tank and putting it back in the tank solved
the problem.

Apparently, when the tank went dry, the float in the tank that tells the
jet pump that there is no water got stuck in the open position.

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.

Good to see still kickin' Danny. What up?!

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

On Mon, 2 Jul 2018 14:42:05 -0400, Tekkie® wrote:

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.

Now take a shower & chill out :-)

Ya gotta love Danny D. He has real DIY projects. ;)
--
"We recommend using your hand to replace the fuse as it will take much longer using your knee."

How to debug why my water pressure is zero after the tanks ran dry (and were refilled)?
 

Oren posted for all of us...



On Mon, 2 Jul 2018 14:42:05 -0400, Tekkie® wrote:

So we have water pressure again! Thanks.

Now take a shower & chill out :-)

Ya gotta love Danny D. He has real DIY projects. ;)

Yeah, I like it when he posts, you pointed him out to us. He's not like some
of the other maroons here...

--
Tekkie