I am running my borehole pump for about 10minutes, then it just drips.
There is a little "overload" protection push button on the control box that pops out.
Any idea where I can start?

I have opened the control box, all seems good inside, no loose or open wires.

Attached is a picture of the control box, the overload button is on the right hand side (it is pushed in now).

If I leave the pump for a day, it works for another 10 minutes again.
If I push in the overload button, the pump does not start again.

Before I pull up the pump, please give me some adivce?

It could be the capacitors or the insulation on the cable, it can be tested with a multimeter just check continuity between the wires and earth.

If you pull up the borehole you need at least 2 people. If you take the pump in to be tested take the cable as well.

good luck

Normally the thermal trip will cut out when there are an overcurrent event over a period of time. This may be due to a cable insulation problem and water getting in. It may also be due to a motor inlet obstruction. The meter test may or may not show anything.

better to test with a proper leakage tester (aka megger) to find out if the insulation is 100%. Get that done by someone that knows how to do the test without damaging the pump control system etc. Also the reading is not absolute so not easy to interpret. A competent person with experience will do that.

The capacitor in the box is for starting the motor. Normally, if the motor does not pump water because of an obstruction, the trip will happen pretty quickly. Are the pump delivering normal amount of water when switched on? If so it means it has started properly. If its not pumping, it means the motor does not start or is obstructed from turning the impellers normally. It still could be the motor as the contacts in the motor to disengage the capacitor after starting my be stuck.

A few things to consider. And when you have to pull that pump, wear gloves 🧤🤔

An update here.
So it seems it is the overload switch itself that is the issue.
I have removed the plugs and reinserted them in again and the borehole no longer drips.

I also pulled the pump up slowly and then slowly let it go down again.

Thank you all for the comments.
 

Hi Mcguyver. I have exa tky the same issue with my pump. This happened a few years ago and of course we always think the worst so pulled the pump and cable and had it all tested. All was fine. Turned out it was the overload switch all along. Replaced the complete control unit now 3 years later the same thing. Very frustrating. 

Gentle people, please always make sure that your boreholes are fully gaged ( i.e. cased). To minimize more issues after installations. The main problem here is the pump not being able to suck the water from the ground. And you can sort out the issue yourself without any call to the so-called "professionals"  

the pump is working perfectly.. then switches off completely for a few seconds... then it works properly... switches off again... happens all the time... very frustrating

 

 

Hi boreholes. Need help please. Borehole pump pulls water from about 3 minutes. Then then the water just stops but I can here the pump still running. I'll switch the pump off for about 1 minute and switch on again. Then water comes running again for a few seconds then the water stops but pump is running. I left it over night off, switched on the next morning. Again same issue. Pulls good water for about 3 minutes then no water coming through. Please help!!! Just had it recently installed but the guy is now ignoring my calls. 

59 minutes ago, Sudique said:

Hi boreholes. Need help please. Borehole pump pulls water from about 3 minutes. Then then the water just stops but I can here the pump still running. I'll switch the pump off for about 1 minute and switch on again. Then water comes running again for a few seconds then the water stops but pump is running. I left it over night off, switched on the next morning. Again same issue. Pulls good water for about 3 minutes then no water coming through. Please help!!! Just had it recently installed but the guy is now ignoring my calls. 

Boreholes may dry up after pumping for a few minutes due to well bore clogging caused by the accumulation of particles on the well bore. The borehole may dry up after pumping for a few minutes due to insufficient well fluid in the  well.

Edited April 27, 20242 yr by Derek3

Hi All. Need advise on my borehole, please.

I just had it recently installed with a control box. The borehole pumps water for about 2 minutes then that water stops but the pump is still running. I switched the wall plug off, waited about 1 minute and put it back on. The water starts again, but only for 5 seconds. The pump is still on but no water coming through. If I put the switch on immediately after switching it off, the pump I can hear but no water. 

Please help or advise what the problem could be. The guy who installed it has now gone missing and not answering my calls. He said that they went 26 meters deep and found good water pressure. I left it off overnight and switched it on the next morning. Again, it runs and pulls water for about 2-3 minutes but then suddenly the water stops even though the pump is still on.

I am in the Panorama area in Cape Town. Where I was told wellpoint water is too weak and after spending money on the wellpoint option, that never worked I went for borehole but now have this issue.

Thanks in advance....

2 minutes ago, Sudique said:

Hi All. Need advise on my borehole, please.

I just had it recently installed with a control box. The borehole pumps water for about 2 minutes then that water stops but the pump is still running. I switched the wall plug off, waited about 1 minute and put it back on. The water starts again, but only for 5 seconds. The pump is still on but no water coming through. If I put the switch on immediately after switching it off, the pump I can hear but no water. 

Please help or advise what the problem could be. The guy who installed it has now gone missing and not answering my calls. He said that they went 26 meters deep and found good water pressure. I left it off overnight and switched it on the next morning. Again, it runs and pulls water for about 2-3 minutes but then suddenly the water stops even though the pump is still on.

I am in the Panorama area in Cape Town. Where I was told wellpoint water is too weak and after spending money on the wellpoint option, that never worked I went for borehole but now have this issue.

Thanks in advance....

If it is a new borehole then the sleeve and pump should be ok. It sounds like inadequate water in the borehole. I had problems with my borehole when i purchased my house in Cpt and after re-sleeving of the borehole it works great.

7 hours ago, Sudique said:

Hi All. Need advise on my borehole, please.

I just had it recently installed with a control box. The borehole pumps water for about 2 minutes then that water stops but the pump is still running. I switched the wall plug off, waited about 1 minute and put it back on. The water starts again, but only for 5 seconds. The pump is still on but no water coming through. If I put the switch on immediately after switching it off, the pump I can hear but no water. 

Please help or advise what the problem could be. The guy who installed it has now gone missing and not answering my calls. He said that they went 26 meters deep and found good water pressure. I left it off overnight and switched it on the next morning. Again, it runs and pulls water for about 2-3 minutes but then suddenly the water stops even though the pump is still on.

I am in the Panorama area in Cape Town. Where I was told wellpoint water is too weak and after spending money on the wellpoint option, that never worked I went for borehole but now have this issue.

Thanks in advance....

With the water not coming out and pump running each time it seems you have a weak water table. Try running it for 2min or when water stops. Switch of for say 15min and start again. Do this for a few times to try and see if this is enough time for the water table to increase. Not very practical for the long run but could clarify the water table. 

I can do that. Will give it a try. But what are my options. If this persists? Do I go deeper? I'm trying to fill my water tank that is used for pool and irrigation system.

20 hours ago, TaliaB said:

If it is a new borehole then the sleeve and pump should be ok. It sounds like inadequate water in the borehole. I had problems with my borehole when i purchased my house in Cpt and after re-sleeving of the borehole it works great.

Which are in Cpt you in? And how deep is the borehole? It's a frustrating situation. Where the pump is pulling water, you hear there is plenty coming through. But only for a few minutes. 

2 hours ago, Sudique said:

I can do that. Will give it a try. But what are my options. If this persists? Do I go deeper? I'm trying to fill my water tank that is used for pool and irrigation system.

Well one option is during day time to use a basic Sonoff timer and cycle it 5min on 15min off around the clock. I mention day time so you can monitor it that the pump does not run without water flowing.

If it works one can introduce a flow switch to switch the pump off should there be no water flowing say for 10sec after it was started or during the run 5min period. 

This can give you a guess of 3-4000 litres a day. Seems quite a bit of water. 

6 hours ago, Sudique said:

Which are in Cpt you in? And how deep is the borehole? It's a frustrating situation. Where the pump is pulling water, you hear there is plenty coming through. But only for a few minutes. 

I am situated in Durbanville. I had a look at the file left by previous owner of the property and there is a test report when the borehole was done. The depth is 82 meters. The pump has 120m head. The depth of the aquifer is measured at 83 meters. The aquifer test involves installing a test pump and pumping borehole water for a fixed set of variables; a given time at a given rate, and then assessing the test’s impact on the water level in the borehole.There is a drawdown test report states 500l/hr i have not verified this yet.@Sudiquedo you have a aquifer test report that was issued by a hydro-geologist?

Edited April 28, 20242 yr by TaliaB

On 2024/04/27 at 12:17 PM, Derek3 said:

Boreholes may dry up after pumping for a few minutes due to well bore clogging caused by the accumulation of particles on the well bore.

@Sudique Is it possible for you to lift the piping/pump say 3-5 meters to see if clogging occurred? Maybe your pump is lying right down at the bottom in mud/grid.

Always fancied cleaning my borehole out with Dry Ice 

 

Got the same problem, pump for 3 minutes then trip, reset then working for 3 minutes. Dont know where to start looking for problem. From day 1 it starts, the installer say its power problem, its protected the pump., bud there is no power issue, stay at 220 to 226V. Can it be cable problem, ore pump. Please help

Having done this recently in my home...The following points are noteworthy from my limited experience:

1) Take note to use a quality submersible cable and thickness.

2) Rate the size of your submersible pump correctly.

3) Take note when they are drilling to know at what depth you first find water.

4) Try to have margin with how deep you go and take note of the season. In wet season the water table can be higher than in the dryer months so give yourself margin and go to a lower depth if possible.

5) Case the Hole to deeper depths if possible and affordable.

Points 1 - 4 can be the causes of the pumps not working. Also make use of quality thick wall Class 16 HDPE pipe it's more heavy duty with thicker Walls and won't perish or cut during installation.

I wired and dropped my own pump and wired everything myself without an assistant. My depth is 60m and we had a very poor soil formation of Clay down to 25m. We cased in Metal to 30m and then cased in 8mm Blue PVC to 60m. We discovered water at 18m. Did a yield test and ran for 5 hours at a rate of 4500l per hour and tested recovery.

I installed a 3000l per hour Pump and I fill up my 5000l tank in +-50mins. Ok given I had a poor formation forced me to take precautions of casing all the way down to my 60m depth but the hole is very strong and the water quality is amazing. I think the same rules apply here guys, get a good reputable company with some word of mouth reviews that will send an approved person to locate water and do a site survey before they drill.

If you in Gauteng and need a competent drilling company call: Top line Borehole Drilling:

+27 83 296 5917. I got in touch with them through word of mouth and I did not regret it neither has their former clients that refered me.

Some other finer points to consider is to make sure you have a Submersible pump that is rated at the depths of water that you trying to pump from. I just needed someone to drill the hole and I opted to size and purchase the pumps myself as I knew there is a lot of bullshittery when it comes to this.

My home is double story so I opted for 1.2kW Booster pump. My submersible is a 750W Pump and I opted for Hurricane Pumps as they based in Centurion. Really helpful people and had good knowledge for beginners like me. They even had installers if I required. My Submersible is rated for 100m depth so 60m is not too far a stretch for it's operation. A lot of people will want the Rolls Royce of DAB pumps but that's maybe a Sunsynk Vs Axpert argument. All I can say is that I have a 12month warranty on both pumps and whilst I was there, there was a person that came in with a warranty claim and a brand new pump was exchanged. Pump was in operation for 3 months. They asked a few questions to ascertain if there was an installation issue but there was a willingness to assist rather than refute.

My rig has been running for 6months now and hasn't skipped a beat. We use the water for all of our needs not just limited to irrigation and pool. Municipal supply is shut off and for that matter electrical supply too.

Good luck guys it's not easy just like the solar industry isn't easy to find competent and reputable people but doing your homework can get good results. Just like solar you spending good money so the same rules apply dedicate some good time to review the subject.

On 2025/09/16 at 3:18 PM, Louis 123 said:

pump for 3 minutes then trip,

What exactly is it tripping on? If you bypass that protection, it won't trip anymore.

When I switch on the pump, it kicks-off earthleakage on my DB, but stays on and not pumping.

Is the problem with the control box or power cable from the DB, please advise