Wiring a Receptacle for a Lift Pump for a Septic System
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Wiring a Lift Pump Circuit Works for a Septic System: How a Float Switch Works for Turning On a Septic Pump. |
Septic System Lift Pump and the Float Switch
[ad#block]Electrical Question: I recently re-wired a receptacle for the lift pump for my septic system.
- The previous home owner had buried the cable under ground and the over the years the cable deteriorated and corroded and eventually shorted out.
- I took the old wire out from the electrical panel and installed new wire in weather tight conduit and a new GFI plug in the receptacle box.
- I have a Greenlee gt-11 circuit tester and it shows that I have power to the receptacle, but when I plug in the lift pump and the float switch, they don’t work. I also have a lighted circuit tester that when plugged into the GFI receptacle, shows that I have an open hot wire.
- I went back and checked all my connections and they are all properly connected and tight. I always thought that open hot meant there was a direct short in the wire, but the circuit breaker is not tripping.
I’m stumped. Could you explain to me the meaning of open hot, and maybe give me some clues as how to solve this dilemma.
Thank you for your time.
This electrical troubleshooting question came from: Matt, from Nederland, Colorado.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Matt.
How a Lift Pump Circuit Works
- What is an Open Hot
- An open hot means that there is no voltage on the black wire of the circuit at the location of the device that is being served by the circuit.
- GFCI Power Source
- If the GFI plug has power, but you are testing a cord that is attached to the float then it is possible that the motor may be kept from running if it is not submerged into water to protect it from damage.
- How a Float Switch Works
- A float is basically is a switch, where the power comes in one wire, goes through a pair of contacts, and then travels back out through another wire.
- When the switch is open, which is the same as being off, this condition creates one example of an open hot.
- When the switch contacts are closed this creates a completed circuit which then flows electrical power to the device that it is controlling, which in this case is a sump pump.
More about Electrical Circuit Wiring for a Lift Pump
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