salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
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Electrical wire
- Thread starter salmonchaser
- Start date
With the braker being 200A and stating "main" it looks like a 220V/110V split. The middle 2 are ground, but a larger view would help me. What brand and model is the box? Doesn't appear to be or have GFI as most brakers I've seen have a red or yellow tab in the middle/on the toggle. Volt meter will tell for sure! If no meter, then use a pigtail connected to a lightbulb receptacle with a light in it. Won't tell you the voltage, but will let you know what is what.
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salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
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I think I have it figured out. Years ago power ran from this box, 250 yards up the hill to the well. Up in our attic I found a junction box with a black wire coming from the old well with white tape on it. It tied into the black wire with the white stripe. Must be the return line then. When we “sold” the upper 5 acres to the kids we made them a deal but they had to power the well when they built their house. That return line is no longer in use then. Question now is; can I disconnect that black and white wire in the middle without cooking myself?
I will get some better pictures.
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salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
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So the black and Black and red wire run up to the box in the attic they the whole mess is wired into wires that run up the hill.
Basically we have no use for that system any more and we want to install a heat pump/ac this spring. I want to replace that 100 amp with a 50, if I recall correctly and get the power over to the other side of the garage for the heatpump. Or I spend 500 bucks and see if I can get an electrician out here by fall
Basically we have no use for that system any more and we want to install a heat pump/ac this spring. I want to replace that 100 amp with a 50, if I recall correctly and get the power over to the other side of the garage for the heatpump. Or I spend 500 bucks and see if I can get an electrician out here by fall
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truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
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If you have a jitter bug check and see if they are live. If the kids didn't disconnect them at their end you could be getting feed back even if you turn off the main breaker. I would turn off the main breaker any way before turning a screw driver in the box.
RL338
Handloader
- Mar 23, 2017
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Your black/white is the neutral/ ground to where ever the 100amp breaker is running to. If you’re a little nervous on disconnecting it , have someone hold a light for you and shut the main off and unhook the black/white.
It's labeled "N" which is Neutral, but the multistrand next to it doesn't have insulation on it. When working on any power I "TURN OFF THE DISCONNECT" at the pole/meter or outside the house/building before touching anything! The black/red wire going to the 100A (220 single phase) goes to the well (?) along with the black wire (110 each side just like electric dryers/cooktops). Ohms will tell you if those 3 are on the same line/circuit. BTW, "N" isn't ground and I don't know where it's connected looking at the pics. Could be "bonded" outside? Square D panel and brakers. I can't say for sure, but the exposed multistrand could be the ground as it would be extremely unwise to have a hot or neutral wire bare! I can't see the top of how the wire are on the incoming as knowing if the white/black wire is attached to the neutral or hot?So the black and Black and red wire run up to the box in the attic they the whole mess is wired into wires that run up the hill.
Basically we have no use for that system any more and we want to install a heat pump/ac this spring. I want to replace that 100 amp with a 50, if I recall correctly and get the power over to the other side of the garage for the heatpump. Or I spend 500 bucks and see if I can get an electrician out here by fall
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- #10
salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
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Thanks for the help, I’ve successfully done enough of this electrical stuff to be dangerous!
truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
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Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
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know less than nothing about wiring, but 100 amp breaker is way to much for a well pump, are there other breakers in junction boxes in line with that 100 amp circuit?
Depending on supply line size going 250 yards+ anything else that could be in use might need that much? Not sure on well size, depth, volume, etc, but 100A does seem excessive. Looks like #2 or #4 wire size which is probably the same all the way to the well. Our water table is around 20' and use double 30A w/ 12ga wire for house water. Water for center pivot systems for 100 and 120 acres are suppling 800gpm each with depts at 320' and 360'. Very fortunate in that retrospect. Wells are over 50 years old and static level is within 10' of when it was 1st drilled (170-180').
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salmonchaser
Handloader
- Dec 13, 2013
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You have a good well. We are at 300 feet. I don’t recall the pump size, the wiring was done by the original builder. Last pump we did on the cabin was also 300 feet and it had a 30 amp. Thanks for your input. I appreciate the help.
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
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II know on my employers property there is a well that is 1200', requires a 2 hp submersible pump and a 40 amp breaker, water is 440' from ground level.
