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A three-phase pump control panel is the interface between the incoming three-phase power and the pump. A pump control panel has four major components that provide four basic functions in [...]

Submersible pump accessories are the plumbing and electrical components of a pumped water system that are particular to a submersible pump system vs. a jet pump system. For simplicity's sake, [...]

Controlling the amount of air in a conventional pressure tank is crucial in providing an efficient and reliable pumped water system. Last month, we described the compressor-based air-charging systems that [...]

So far in this series, we have examined two of the three factors to be considered when determining the pressure requirements of a pump household working pressure and lift pressure. [...]

This month's article takes us back to the basics. In this and the articles to follow, we will be talking about pumped water systems. Because this is a ground water [...]

Windmills have been used for pumping water for hundreds of years, and they remain a viable alternative to electrically driven pumps in remote areas. This article will present a brief [...]

Last month, we began a discussion on variable-frequency drives with a look at how three-phase AC induction motors work and how they are controlled by a VFD. We said the [...]

The last two articles in this series on electricity focused on single-phase pumped water systems. This article will be the first of several on three-phase systems. This month, we will [...]

During the next few months, we will focus on the electrical side of pumped water systems. We'll start by looking at the components in two-wire and three-wire single-phase systems, explaining [...]

A few years ago, I was asked to look at a booster system that pumped hot water from a non-pressurized, solar-heated storage tank into a large pressure tank at a [...]

We began this section on friction loss pressure drop last month with a look at the factors that contribute to friction loss--flow velocity, pipe size, length of pipe, viscosity of [...]

Why do pump motors fail? In 1987, the publishers of the Electric Motor Manual studied 9,000 motor failures and categorized the failures into seven types: overload, single-phasing, old age, bearing [...]

Many of the ideas for my column are inspired by questions I get from readers and friends in the industry. A few weeks ago, someone asked how to wire in [...]

There are three factors that go into the determination of the pressure required from a pump a residential water system. Lift Pressure pressure required to get the water from down [...]

Heat is a motors worst nightmare. Submersible motors are rugged devices that will last many years with proper treatment. Their primary enemy is excessive heat that can melt the motor [...]

During the last several years, much has been written about constant pressure systems. Most of the information has come from the manufacturers of pump systems with variable speed motors. These [...]

Most water well owners are lucky enough to have wells that out-produce their pumps day-in, day-out, year after year. Their pumping level may vary some, but they generally stay about [...]

You're a pump person. You install submersible pumps. Some of your jobs involve installing a new pump in a new well. Others are repair jobs, where you troubleshoot and repair [...]

Check valves permit water flow in one direction only and generally are recommended for all submersible pump installations. Their purpose is to prevent the water in the column above the [...]

Compressor-type air charging systems with a water level probe are normally used on larger conventional tanks for economic reasons. In smaller residential systems, simpler, less expensive air charging devices are [...]

Several years ago, I wrote an article about drop pipe: the pipe that connects to a submersible pump and carries the well water to the well head. In that article, [...]

I was visiting with a pump contractor a few weeks ago and was interested to learn that his business has nearly doubled this year over last year. I asked why [...]

Last month, we looked at using non-pressurized storage tanks with booster pumps to provide usable amounts of water when you have a slow-producing well. We mentioned several ways of communicating [...]

There are many situations where the water demand on a well water system exceeds the production capacity of the well. For instance, 10 gpm is typically considered the minimum flow [...]

These old Fats Domino lyrics, written for a love song, are apropos for the groundwater industry, especially in this era of changing weather patterns and dropping water tables. A well [...]

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but in mine it's open house season in the groundwater business. Many of the groundwater product distributors hold dealer open houses [...]

Last month, we began a discussion on variable frequency drives with a look at how three phase AC induction motors work and how they are controlled by a VFD. We [...]

They are known by many names: VFDs, variable frequency drives, variable speed drives, adjustable speed drives, inverters, etc. They have been used for many years in the heating and air [...]

The simplest method of starting a three-phase pump motor is by closing a contactor and allowing the motor to start at full voltage, or 'across-the-line,' as it is called. However, [...]

Consider this scenario: You go to a flea market, and spot an electric motor that looks similar to the one on the wash-down pump in your barn that is starting [...]

Why do pump motors fail? In 1987, the publishers of the Electric Motor Manual studied 9,000 motor failures, and categorized the failures into seven types--overload, single-phasing, old age, bearing failures, [...]

Last month, we talked about full-voltage-start pump control panels. We described the various features to look for in the enclosure, the disconnect and the short-circuit protection, be it fuses or [...]

The last two articles in this series on electricity focused on single-phase pumped water systems. This article will be the first of several on three-phase systems. This month, we will [...]

Last month's article was the first of a L10-article series on the electrical portion of pumped water systems. We began with single-phase components, talking about pressure switches, two- and three-wire [...]

During the next few months, we will focus on the electrical side of pumped water systems. We start by looking at the components in two-wire and three-wire single-phase systems, explaining [...]

Splicing submersible pump cable is part and parcel of every submersible pump installation, because every submersible pump installation has at least one splice, between the motor leads and the pump [...]

Check valves permit water flow only in one direction, and are required on all submersible pump installations. The purpose of a check valve is to prevent the water in the [...]

Last month, we said that the term 'drawdown' refers to the amount of useable water that can be drawn from a hydropneumatic tank from the time the pressure switch cuts [...]

There are two reasons for having a pressure tank in a pumped water system. The first is to give the pump motor a minute or two to dissipate the extra [...]

A few years ago, I was asked to look at a booster system that pumped hot water from a non-pressurized solar-heated storage tank into a large pressure tank at a [...]

This is the third is a series on pump selection and pump performance curves and charts. In our last two articles, we discussed factors that should be considered when selecting [...]

An understanding of pump performance curves is an important part of a pump installer's storehouse of knowledge. It is crucial to pump selection, and can mean the difference between an [...]

During the last few articles, we laid the groundwork for pump selection by showing how to determine the amount of water needed in terms of gallons per minute, and the [...]

Last month, we talked about friction loss due to pressure drop, with a look at the factors that contribute to friction loss--flow velocity, pipe size, length of pipe, viscosity of [...]

Sizing a residential water system involves several considerations. You will need to know the amount of water required to meet the family's needs inside and outside the house. You'll need [...]

Last month, we began this discussion about pumped water systems with a look at the four basic types of pumps that are used in residential systems--the straight centrifugal, the shallow-well [...]

Last month, we began a two-part series on solar pumps. We started with a review of solar energy, followed by a brief description of the various methods of converting solar [...]

In many parts of the world, energy sources that most of us take for granted such as electricity and petroleum products are not readily available. Even in the United States, [...]

You're a pump man. You install submersible pumps. Some of your jobs involve installing a new pump in a new well. Others are repair jobs where you troubleshoot and repair [...]

During the last several years, our industry has seen a lot of hype about constant-pressure systems. Some of the information has come from the manufacturers of pump systems with variable-speed [...]