|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
I have an area about 100 feet from my house where I keep my boat. I currently run an extension cord over there for a motion sensitive light and battery maintainer. It crosses the lawn where I mow and I was thinking about burying a PVC pipe and running the extension under ground through the pipe. I know I could bury ground rated wire but this is more costly and I don't know how permanent I want this to be. My well is also near the boat. I could tap into the well electric and install an outdoor plug but the wife is balking - saying that she doesn't want any problems with the well pump. Sometimes ( I hate to admit it - she is right).  How would you handle this?
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
It's a good question. I'm wondering the same thing. We had to add a plug-in wrap-around heat strip to our well head to prevent freezing. Each winter I drag an extension cord out to plug it in and it sits out there for six months. Since the well head is 220 I was wondering if I could tap into one phase to provide 110 for the heat strip without screwing up the pump.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
I'm not an electrician but...isn't a matter of knowing the amp draw and comparing that to the rated amperage capacity of the circuit? I mean if the rating is 30 amps and you only draw 20 that leaves 10 amps left to work with right?
And besides a well pump isn't always running anyway.
You might do well to replace that extension cord with a higher gauge wire though and bury it. I have buried extension cords ---ahem---against code temporarily with no problems.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
Yeah, that's true of total amp draw, but ... it seems a load will cause a voltage drop and if one phase has a slightly lower voltage than the other phase will it have a detrimental effect on the pump motor? Sorry, crunch, for hijacking your thread
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
No problem Ken , that's an interesting question. EW - since I wasn't the original owner of this house I don't have the paperwork on the pump so I guess I would be playing a little russian roulette by tapping into the line. I couldn't read your full response because I haven't managed to upgrade this account to premium yet (my other post).
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
I realize you are talking 100 ft, and i'm talking about 15 ft., but the people who have the trailer next to ours at the river buried a length of 4 in. PVC between their trailer and the hookup post for the water and electricity to keep it out of the way for mowing. In the spring he pushes the big black trailer cord and his water hose thru and in the fall he pulls them out. Woeks pretty nice. BUT, water hose and big black cord in same PVC???? Mine lay on the round so the mowing guy has to move them but he's never complained, he move everybody elses too except the neighbor. Frank.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
Frank, your mowing guy---maybe the reason he doesn't complain is because he's subjected to all that electric shock and can't speak!
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
If you just need to power a security light try Harbor Freight Tools. They have solar powered lights, item 93361. Please see the link below.
I hope that this helps
Link:
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
Typically your well pump line is only live when the pump runs. Unless you have the pressure switch and all out at the well.
Run a seperate UF grade, 12/2 or 14/2, wire just under the sod. Me thinks it's the simplest and easiest semipermenant solution.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
|
Tapping in to Well Electric
EW; I don't remember what the mowing guy charges, but it's hardly enough to buy the gas let alone hauling an old Lawn Boy up there that wouldn't ever start. The guy next door with the PVC for his power cord and the water hose is one of those so neat and proper type guys that it almost makes you throw up. Sorry, maybe you are that type too. Enjoy your Saturday. Frank.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
|
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
05-04-2007, 20:30 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us 
