New Whisperflo Trips Breaker

[jzerf]

So I can start the pump with the lid opened? If the starter winding stays powered do you think it's a defective pump? I really appreciate your help!!

Jason

[Poconos]

Yes...running with the lid open for a few minutes won't hurt anything. You can fill it with a bucket if the basket was totally dry just to wet the seal. If the winding is staying powered then yes, the switch is defective. You'll also hear a somewhat loud hum or groan as the winding is a low impedance and will pull a lot of current. Usually switches fail open because the contacts get cruddy but something could have broke in the spring loaded centrifugal mechanism. Very odd for a new pump.There's a pic of the back end of my Hayward Superpump in this thread. May be of help.
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=4800

Time for bed...long drive home tomorrow.
Al

[jzerf]

Thanks for your help AL. I'll give that a try. Have a safe trip!

[jzerf]

I tried the pump with the cover off. It sounds like it's starting up and then trips the breaker. I do hear a click after a few seconds when power is cut. I checked and the propeller spins freely. Feeling that maybe it's my breaker, replaced it, but that did not improve anything. I actually think it's getting worse each time I try it. I called Pentair to start a warranty claim. Hopefully that will go smooth.

[Poconos]

Could very well be a shorted turn or turns on the running winding. Hope the warranty process goes smoothly and quickly. Would be interesting if you had a clamp on ampmeter just to see what kind of current it's really pulling. Just the curious part of me.
Good Luck and post back to let us know the outcome.
Al

[jzerf]

Just got off the phone with Pentair. Looks like they are sending me a new motor. Hopefully thats the problem! Now I just have to figure out how to install it when it comes.

[jzerf]

I received my new motor from Pentair via the Warranty process. I put the defective one on the tool bench and decided to inspect the starting cap again. After removing the cover this time I noticed two tiny black marks on the inside cover where the wires attach to the capacitor. I suddenly realized that the cap was shorting on the inside cover because it was not seated in the correct position. I reseated it correctly, put the new pump back inline, and presto it works!!

I could of saved myself much aggravation if I just noticed that before!

Thanks for all your help Al!