From: "Harry K" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house sci.engr.mech misc.rural
Subject: Re: Why would well pump cycle on and off every second?
Date: 1 Jun 2005 21:04:05 -0700
   posting-account=3X3iVQwAAAA5qeF0JLSgIGYnZgL6amWt



nomad wrote:
> If I was to move the pressure switch from the well to the house, I
> would have to trench and run 75' of power cord. Although, It is almost
> a toss up as to which would be worse, moving the tank or moving the
> pressure switch and running a new power cord. I think I might try
> reducing the air pressure in the tank bladder to 29psi and try running
> the pump from 30psi on (cut-in) to 60psi off (cut-off) and see if that
> gives the pump enough difference between on and off pressures to keep
> it from kicking off as soon as the pump kicks in.

Nothing new to add but I thought I would wrap up all the good
suggestions in one batch.  Lots of good brainstorming in this thread.

Cause:  Looks like the 75 ft run is causing the pressure switch to see
overpressures at start-up.  That could be due to two things:

1.  Just the physical restriction getting the colume of water moving:
Most likely. Your saying that you can force the pump to stay on by
holding the contacts closed "for a few seconds" is the clue.

2.  A restriction in the pipeing somewhere.  The size pipe you have
should not be enough to cause it.  If you have a water
filter/conditioner, it could be partly plugged.  That is one common
cause of restrictions but I don't think it is in your case.

Cures:
1.  Move the tank: I wouldn't.  Running a trench and wire for 75 ft is
not that much work and you won't have the nuisance of having to keep
the tank from freezing or maintaining it in a hole in the ground.

2.  Move the pressure switch to the tank - I would.  Again adding
whatever wiring is needed for 75 ft is not that much work.  It also
moves a maintenance item to an easily accessable location (the
basement).

3.  Add a delay timer:  Good but adds another thing to the system that
can fail.

Your plan of changing the cut-in pressure to 30 will probably fail. The
problem is not the differential between cut-in/cut-out.  The problem is
that the pressure switch is seeing pressures at or above 60 psi at
start-up.  The switch will still see overpressure.

Harry K