Can I operate a 230v sump pump on 120v.

jCarroll

Well-known Member
Location
mid-Ohio
By mistake (mine) I bought a Myers SRM4M2C sewage pump to empty a basement toilet and sink. This 1/2 bath will be lightly used, and my guess is that the sump will need to be pumped no more than weekly. Based on Myers chart, the pump would empty the sump in 20 seconds.

The sump is wired with a 120v outlet. It'll be tough to get a 240 line to this location.

How well will it work if I run it on 120?
 
If the pump is a dedicated 230Volt pump, the motor will burn out quick just a s Kevin says.

If the pump is dual voltage, it can be re-connected to use 120 volts. If the label says only one voltage, then it is probably a dedicated 230 volt unit.

Looks like there is a new 230 volt circuit in your future.
 
Let the experts explain code but in some areas you can take the white, Neutral, color each end red and make the feed 220 if it a dedicated circuit. THEN HOOK UP TO 220 IN PANEL. YOU SHOULD STILL HAVE GREEN MACHINE GROUND AND COPPER GROUND.
 
That's how I would wire it too. Not a code person. I would wrap the white wire with electrical tape.
 
(quoted from post at 20:42:02 04/14/15) That's how I would wire it too. Not a code person. I would wrap the white wire with electrical tape.
nd hopefully that pump receptacle isn't wire to every other receptacle in the basement or other parts of the house.
 
Square D for one makes a fat breaker and a pair of thin ones that fit the fat space in the box with each of the 2 legs on opposite hots. That would work to get you a dedicated circuit if you don't have one but have a square D box. No amperage reduction with the pair. I know they come in 15 and 20 amperes. Don't know if they go over that.

Mark
 
As stated below many single phase motors are dual voltage. Some have no mention of the lower voltage (120) wiring instructions.

I ran into this with a institutional grade older Hobart mixer. In this case a visit with the folks at Hobart gave me the info I needed to wire on 120 and all has been good.

Uglys reference gives instructions for motor wiring also.

Make sure you have the wiring to run this pump on that circuit also. I think 2hp is about the max on a 120v circuit.

jm2cw

jt
 
The biggest problem will probably be unreliable starts, especially if there is anything in the sump, like mud that would impair the impeller.

The motor will probably have overload circuitry built in that will protect it from burning out, but the possibility of tripping the breaker, the unreliable start up, and excessive power consumed all say "it's not worth it, fix it right"!

I had a pool pump many years ago, ran it on 120v for about 2 years. It got to where it would sometimes fail to start, just hum. I took it apart looking for the problem... Discovered it was wired for 220v. Changed the taps for 120v, it ran fine for many more years.
 
If you haven't used it yet take it back. Myers makes that model in a 115 single phase option at the same price. Thats not a very big motor( 4/10 HP) for a sewage pump. I have a Wayne sewage pump in basement and its a 2 Hp. Mine has to lift the sewage 8 foot before it heads to tank.
 
Do some shopping, you might be able to find a transformer that you can plug in to 120v and get 240v out. Just be sure that it can handle a load bigger that the pump, about 150% bigger.

Dusty
 
You ask "How well will it work if I run it on 120?"

ANSWER Very poor and until it overheats and trips thermals or a breaker or something burns up.

You did NOT talk about if its a dual voltage 120/240 motor, but if so and its wired for 120 then yes its okay.

John T
 
Too bad your receptacle is not a dedicated line. Then you could do it at the panel. I assume you have other outlets on that circuit. So I think you need a new motor if it is not re wireable .
 
(quoted from post at 16:38:35 04/14/15) Let the experts explain code but in some areas you can take the white, Neutral, color each end red and make the feed 220 if it a dedicated circuit. THEN HOOK UP TO 220 IN PANEL. YOU SHOULD STILL HAVE GREEN MACHINE GROUND AND COPPER GROUND.

Amazing how that works.
 
OH yes, my light are many times brighter.

I have a single circuit to all my pumps. Isn't that how pumps should to be wired, single
circuit?
 

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