We have just repaired a water bore in Claremont for an elderly client.
We talked to the customer on the phone and identified the fact we needed to send our specialist bore electrician, Dave. He found the submersible pump motor was not working and certified it as fused so the client could claim on her insurance. Her insurance policy covered pump motor fusion. It was quite deep for a Claremont bore so we had to winch the pump up over 30 metres.
We install and repair water bores in the Claremont area and surrounding suburbs of Nedlands and Dalkeith.
If your submersible pump is fused it may be covered by your household insurance. Call us on 9246 0111.
We were happy to receive a handwritten note on Friday from a customer in Kardinya. We replaced his fused submersible pump motor and steered him in the right direction with his fusion insurance claim.
He said, “Thanks for fixing my submersible bore pump so promptly. I didn’t even know fusion might be covered under insurance“. Our electrician tested the motor and wrote it up as fusion.
This terminology is used to describe the single phase motor that drives the submersible “wet-end” or pump. It is not used in reference to three phase submersible pumps. The difference between a “2 wire” and “3 wire” pump is based on the type of motor that is used. A “3 wire” single phase submersible pump motor requires a control box or start box that contains a starting capacitor or start/run capacitor. This box is normally mounted near the power
Lowara bore start box
source or buildings meter box. This has an on/off manual switch and motor running indicator. On installation an electrician puts a 24v relay in this to accept the signal from a reticulation controller if required, thereby automating the start box. Because of the method of starting, the motor requires three “hot” leads (plus a lead for the ground connection) to operate correctly. It is called a “3-wire” due to the three “hot” leads, though there are actually 4
individual wires when you count the earth (ground) wire. On the other hand a “2 wire” motor requires no control/start box because it does not use a starting capacitor.
Sumoto Submersible Start Box
Instead, a “2 wire” motor has a built-in electrical device that is used to start the motor. This only requires the pump to have 2 “hot” leads (plus earth), which is why it is called a “2 wire” pump. But when counting the total number of wires coming to the surface we see a “2 wire” pump actually has 3 wires and a “3 wire” pump actually has 4 wires. Confused? Fixing submersible bores and pumps is what we do every day. Our experience is what sets us apart. Our service teams have the knowledge, experience and tools to get the job done right first time with a minimum of fuss. Call 9246 0111 for any bore service needs Perth and surrounds or book a bore service online
With the ending of Perth metro sprinkler bans for 2013 Perth bore owners are testing their water bores for the first time this season……and some aren’t working! We have had calls today all with similar stories. “I’m starting my bore and the circuit breaker is tripping ( or fuse is blowing), what do I do?”. First thing is we send a bore electrician ( one who is experienced in pumps and bores ) with special equipment to test the circuits and windings of the motor. With submersible motors this can be done without winching the pump up. Remember if it is a fused bore pump motor it may be covered under household insurance. Also if the fault can be traced back to one of winters electrical storms it may be related, even damage from lightning induction, and this too may be subject to an insurance claim. This is a very good reason to have the matter attended to first by specialist bore repairers who can correctly diagnose the fault and possible cause. 1300 734 300 will reach us 24/7
check the fuse or circuitbreaker that should be in your meter box and labelled “bore” or “pump”
Single phase bore circuit breaker
Single phase pump start box
if it is 3 phase reset the 415-440v D.O.L ( Direct Online Starter)
if it is single phase there is most likely a separate 240v start box with a reset/over-ride switch. You should check that
does the 240 V start box have a burnt smell?
3 phase DOL bore starter
if it is operated from a reticulation controller check that that has 240v power going to it. Just because the reticulation controller has a display does not mean it has 240v power. Remove the 9v back up battery and confirm there is still a display.
can you hear the 24 v relay clicking in or the contacter make a clunk sound when you start the retic contoller? Starting the reic controller sends a 24v signal to a relay or contactor which turns on the “mains” power to the bore pump.
if all the above seems OK and it is a submersible pump, perhaps the motor is starting and you can’t hear it but another related water delivery problem exists. Does your electricity meter speed up when you start the pump?
if it is a centrifugal pump in a well have you checked the isolation switch?
have you recently had electrical work done to any of the wiring on your house?
Call us on Perth 1300 734 300 if none of the above helped. We may be able to help further on the phone or we will send our mobile bore service teams to any Perth suburb. Further info is on our main website.
As Perth people are beginning to turn on their reticulation sprinkler systems for the first time this season we are getting a lot of calls to our Perth Bore and Retic SERVICE HOTLINE ( 1300 734 300 ) reporting faults. A very common fault is to do with malfunctioning solenoid valves. Solenoid valves are the devices, normally hidden underground, that allow the reticulation system to change from one station (group of sprinklers to another).
If a solenoid valve fails open then that station will be allowing water out each and every time any station is turned on. If the sprinkler system is fed from mains water and a master solenoid valve fails open, in conjunction with a station solenoid valve sticking open, then that group of sprinklers will stay on all the time regardless of whether the retic is turned on or off!
If a solenoid valve fails to open then that station or group of sprinklers will not work under any circumstances. This may happen if the solenoid valve is broken or if the field wires (cables) to the solenoid valve are cut.
Solenoid valve locator Perth
Solenoid valve problems are relatively easy to fix as long as you know where the valves are located. If not we then we get the call ” Help I can’t find my solenoid valves” or “how do I find solenoid valves?”.
We can give you some free tips that may help you locate your own solenoid valves so please give us a call on Perth 1300 734 300 ( South of River, Brett : 0411 511611 or North of River, Troy 0408 454130).
If you need more help we can book a service technician to attend with a special cable tracing wand to locate the solenoid valves or trace cable that may be broken. Or visit our main website for more retic help here
Perth bores are our passion. Because we install and repair bores AND reticulation systems we are Perth’s go-to guys for anything to do with water bores or watering systems. We’ve been drilling and repairing Perth bores for well over a decade. Our local knowledge guarantees you the best groundwater retrieval system tailored to suit wherever you are in Perth. Bores and reticulation systems are what we do. We are members of both Irrigation Australia and the Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA). Our experience means we can guarantee prompt and efficient Perth bore repairs in all suburbs from Lancelin down to Mandurah.
Lowara submersible pumps and motors are a good reliable Italian brand but, like anything, they can have their own idiosyncracies. We specialise in servicing Lowara submersible pumps and their stablemates, Centripro and Marlow. We have over a decade of practical in-the-field service and pump repair experience. A problem that does from time to time present itself with some of the earlier Lowara single phase motors is blown start capacitors in the bore start box. It is an easy fix for someone experienced in Lowara pumps and motors. Give our Perth bore service and repair hotline a call on 1300 734 300 and our mobile bore service team can help you. Or visit or main Virgin Bores website for more bore info and help.
Familiar call today from a lady who happened to live in Sorrento, but we get similar calls from bore owners all over Perth. “the light on my bore box on the wall has stayed on even after I have turned the reticulation controller off “. This can turn in to a bigger problem so first things first, if you are reading this blog and your bore box light is on but there is no water pumping out anywhere please straight away turn the bore mains power off. Turn it off by either turning off the circuit breaker ( or pulling the fuse) labelled “bore” or “pump” that you will hopefully see in your meter box. Or turn off the bore box isolation switch that is located on the bore box on the wall. ( this is called a bore start box, not to be confused with the reticulation controller). Worst case if you can’t turn it by either of these two methods then turn off your mains power master switch and call us pronto on 1300 734 300.
Lowara bore start box
What has most likely happened is that your automatic reticulation controller has correctly sent the 24 volt start signal to the relay in the bore start box and this has started the 240v bore at the same time as the reticulation controller has correctly sent a signal to open a solenoid valve allowing water to flow to the sprinklers. All good so far but then when the automatic reticulation controller has run through its cycle and shut the last solenoid valve the pump has continued to run. Most likely the start relay has stuck on and needs replacing. Prolonged operation of any bore pump with no water being able to flow (dead heading ) can cause a multitude of problems. Most commonly with submersible pumps the rising poly mainline will overheat and “blow”. With centrifugal well pumps overheating leads to several serious problems. Give our Perth bore service hotline a call on 1300 734 300 or visit our main website for more help on bores and reticulation.
Our mobile service teams do prompt repairs to ALL TYPES of Water Bores & Reticulation Sprinkler Systems Perth metro-wide. Free phone advice. Our experience saves you time and money. Bore repair HOTLINE 1300 734 300 North of River: Troy 0408454130 South of River: Brett 0411511611
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