Irrigation Pump Issue ... Electrical?

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by greglepore

What do you see at the 30 amp breaker FEEDING the sub panel. You should see 220v across the two breaker terminals, and 110v from each to the respective leg of the buss bar.

123V from the individual legs to the bus bar, 246V across the breaker terminals.

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[Norm K]

Originally Posted by greglepore

The other thing is, from the photo of the subpanel, I only see one leg on the buss bar. Normal 220 practice is red and black wires are the two phases and white is neutral. All I see is a black wire on the buss bar. Not saying the other phase isn't there but I don't see it.

There's no red wire in the sub-panel. So I have a 240V breaker at the main panel that appears to be doing what it's supposed to do, but only 120V at the sub.

The system has worked as-is for several years, then after it suddenly self-energizes, won't function properly after being turned off, then on, then some new parts, more ons and offs, rinse and repeat, all to no avail (except for two normal surges of water that both ceased once a zone was selected).

I'm about to call a professional but I'm so GD cheap in retirement that I really don't want to.

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[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Norm K

123V from the individual legs to the bus bar, 246V across the breaker terminals.

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You show A-B as 120VAC in an earlier post. Is it actually 230V?

You breaker box does not look like it has 230VAC, but I can't see the whole box...

Is it possible your motor is wired for 120VAC?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by greglepore

The other thing is, from the photo of the subpanel, I only see one leg on the buss bar. Normal 220 practice is red and black wires are the two phases and white is neutral. All I see is a black wire on the buss bar. Not saying the other phase isn't there but I don't see it.

I think the black is running behind the bus. BTW, it's not buss.

So the 120v circuit powers the zone controller, right? I do believe that needs to be checked if all else is correct and it sounds like it is.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

You show A-B as 120VAC in an earlier post. Is it actually 230V? No, it's 120V.

You breaker box does not look like it has 230VAC, but I can't see the whole box...

Is it possible your motor is wired for 120VAC? It's certainly possible, but I don't understand why I have e a 240V circuit in the main panel but only 120V at the sub.

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[1990C4S]

Turn the two breakers on. Measure A-B voltage.

Measure L2-L3 voltage on the relay.

Measure T2-T3 voltage on the relay when the pump is running.

They should all be 220 VAC...