(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

submersible pump wire.

B

Brad Buchanan

Member
Hey folks.

I have a question. For a submersible pump what is the correct type of wire, stranded or solid?

I was shopping around for some wire for my well as I only need about 50 feet and went to the local lumberyard which sells pumps and related items.

I asked the clerk (who has been there for years) and he showed me a package of romex and said that he sells that for pump wire.

I always use stranded for situations where there is vibration or motion so this would seem to be incorrect.

I have a large amount of SOW cable around and was wondering it this would work.

Thanks,

Brad
 
I would use stranded not solid. Is SOW rated for being submersed in water? If so then use that.
 
I have always seen solid wire used on submersible pumps, but I did have one break once. It was probably from improper installation, the pump was down 135 feet and it broke right above the pump. It was also hanging on 160 lb plastic water line (designed for pumps) so the pump probably moved a bit when starting. I shortened everything a couple of feet and taped it together real well and it ran fine.
 
Just because it runs doesn"t make it right. If that pump was meggered or operated from a GFI. Odds are it would fail the test or trip the GFI.
 
Pump outfits sell a wire specifically for submersible pumps- can't recall whether its solid or stranded (I'm thinking solid), but was color coded and had very thick, pliable insulation. Single strands, zip tied together, IIRC.
 
You are probably right .He should look into an S type cord. I did lights in a fountain in a building once and I beleive it was a yellow jacket SO cord. SJ will rot out.Surely there is a chart on the web.
 
Submersible pump wire is usually made up of single conducters, twisted together and can be solid or stranded. Movement of the pump is not an issue. If the pump was moving enough to bother the wires, it would break the pipe. That's why a torque "shock absorber" is usually installed between the pump and the well casing. UL spec # 493 is what applies to it.
 
Hey Tom.

Not an ignorant question. SOW cable is not what you tie a hog with :) .

It is cable with stranded copper conductors jacketed with rubber compound encased with a high quality rubber jacket which is black (at least all I have bought).

It is waterproof and approved for wet locations.

I use it where there is movement involved with cabling i.e. pan and tilt cameras.

It is usually rated for a wide temperature range -40 to 90 degrees C. and remains flexible.

It makes great extension cords.

Brad
 
It is NEC article 400 stuff. Flexible cords and cables. The W indicates it can be wet.Chart 400.4 indicates it is for up to 600 volts. The insulation is thermoset and not thermoplastic . The outer jacket is probably a little stiffer than black rubber SJ cords but that is likley why it is submerjable. A trade name is hard service cord. Like all things in the codebook you must chase down a few other sections to assure you have the proper usage but the chart is 400.4 . Probably a good choice for the use the original poster is intending.[ Yeah I know I can't spell submersible or whatever]
 
Hello Brad Buchanan,

The size of the wire is more important then the type for well pumps. Movement is not an issue.

Guido.
 
The wire I've seen used is:

"Twisted Type TW Thermoplastic PVC Submersible Pump Cable"

Its 3 or 4 individual SOLID wires but all twisted together. The twisted package allows for some flexibility although there shouldn't be much movement of the pump anyway.

See if the store can get this wire.

John T
 
You should go to a place that sells plumbing supplies and water well supplies and get submersible pump wire. Also get the heat shrink covers for the submersible wire. I used to be in the water well and pump business and installed a great many submersible pumps.
You stated 50' of wire. Does that include the distance from the electric source {tank and pump switch] or just the drop into the well? The submersible wire will come in different gauges, usually 12 or 10. You will need the heavy gauge {10] if you have a long run. Uf wire can be placed directly in the ground from the tank to the well.
 
There is enough movement or twist in some that it will rub the insulation off. I know because it happened to me. We used the standard twisted cable pump wire, don't know the size, but after about a year we had to replace it. It rubbed the insulation off by the twisting of the pipe on the rocks we assumed, by the way the wire was tore up. Replaced with a heavier, harder, outside insulated wire which lasted. The well was about 400' deep and we went through a lot of shale and really hard rock and we assumed that was the reason for the failure of the first wire.
 
IDK which type wire we have, but after getting shorted out by the pump twisting on every start, the well man put it inside one inch plastic pipe. No more issues.
 
Hey John.

Thanks for the link and the effort! I am going to go with the wire on the link.

I was going to run the wires directly from the pump to the panel but I think I will use the direct bury cable but will probably put it in pipe down a few feet from the wellhead.

Brad
 
Hey Jde.

I have a torque arrestor installed at the pump level. Just kind of trying to cover all my bases.

This is the first submersible pump that I have installed.

Brad
 
Hey Greg.

According to my research SOW cable is waterproof and approved for shallow underwater applications but it is three times the cost of the genuine stuff!

Brad
 
Actually the well is about 40 feet and the pump level is about 37 feet.

I am planning on using 12 ga. pump wire. This is the easy part. Hard part is getting the pipe and lines under the slab. Got two tunnels but they don.t line up!

Brad
 
Hello Brad Buchanan,

Sounds about right. My well is doing pretty good,
But it has seen minimal use. Wettest summer ever in my neck of the woods, Not complaining though.

Guido.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
How to check well submersible pump
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
Destroked 450
Destroked 450
T
3 1/4 inch expansion / Frost plug Hydraulic pump 1550
Replies
1
Views
248
Mike(NEOhio)
M
B
Hydraulic pump
Replies
0
Views
390
b00mhower-HT
B
G
Electronic Control of Electric Fuel Pump
Replies
2
Views
209
T.R.K.
T
S
2020 hydraulic pump leak from drive seal
Replies
10
Views
341
WTW
W
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top