<font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I believe the F3 error code was the known communication issue with the CU200 controller. Basically, it loses communication with the pump and so throws the error code. I saw a bunch of CU200 controller issues in my previous job; GF acknowledged they had a bad batch, and were pretty good about swapping them out. </font></font><div>
<font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The good news is, the CU200 controller is not required for the pump to run. </font></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The important thing to remember with the CU200 is that it doesn't actually "do" anything to the power going to the pump. If the float switch signal circuit closes, the controller doesn't interrupt power like a traditional switch. Instead, it sends an electronic "stop" signal to the pump, which turns itself off. The conductors down the hole are always energized whenever the sun is shining (assuming it's a PV array powering the pump). Similarly, the controller doesn't actually "measure" the wattage flowing for its display -- it just reports what the pump tells it that it is drawing. </font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; ">I believe the F3 error comes up whenever the controller loses communication with the pump. Take the controller out of the circuit, and if there's enough PV power to overcome the lift the pump should run.</span></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font size="2"></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">In fact, I believe one of the greatest saving graces of the SQ-Flex pump is the ease of troubleshooting. Go out into the field with a small 1,000 watt or larger generator or inverter. Connect 120V AC directly up to the wires going down the hole, and if you get water, the problem isn't with the pump, so you can focus your attention to the array. Add a CU200 into the circuit, and measure the gallons per minute produced (still running from 120v source). Compare the gallons per minute and the wattage consumed by the pump as shown on the CU200's display, against the flow and energy charts for the designed lift in the SQ-Flex service manual. If the flow is lower or wattage is higher, either the water table has dropped (increasing lift), or the pump is beginning to bind (increased friction). </font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">BTW, for those of you using the Flex in a pressurizing system, it's important to remember that the CU200 doesn't directly control the pump -- if there's a loss of communication, the pump will continue to run, causing a potentially damaging over-pressure event. </font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; ">I use a SQ-Flex running off 120v inverter power at my home in New Mexico. I have a CU200 in the circuit so that I can keep track of the water level/pump friction/energy consumption, but I use a standard pressure switch to control when the pump runs. </span></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br clear="all"></font></font>Phil Undercuffler<div><br></div><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 4:47 PM, Gary Gordon at SYV Solar <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gary@syvsolar.com">gary@syvsolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial">Wrenches,</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial">More details on the Grundfos failures:</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial"> 1st failure 11 SQF-2 w/ 204ft TDH </font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span></span><span><font size="2" face="Arial"> 2nd failure 6 SQF-2 w/
220ft. TDH </font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span></span><span><font size="2" face="Arial"> 3rd failure 6
SQF-2 w/ 253ft. TDH </font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial">All controllers were displaying F3 failures, there was voltage at the
well head. Only one replaced so far and seems to work fine.</font></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial"></font></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span><font size="2" face="Arial">Any ideas or similar problems?</font></span></div><div class="im">
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"><span>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">Gary Gordon</font></div>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">Santa Ynez Valley Solar</font></div>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">P. O. Box 688</font></div>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">Santa Ynez, CA 93460</font></div>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">805 688-1213</font></div>
<div align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial">Gary@SYVSolar.com</font></div> </span></div><br>
</div><div dir="ltr" lang="en-us" align="left">
<hr>
<font size="2" face="Tahoma"><div class="im"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mike
Nelson<br></div><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, November 06, 2010 10:07 AM<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><b>To:</b>
RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Grundfos<br></div></div></font><br></div><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<div></div>
<div>Doug, </div>
<div>Thanks for the feedback. I have to install the monoflo, because it was
purchased 2 summers ago, but the customer didn't have the site work done to
install the pump. This summer the site work was finished and now the customer is
ready to have the system installed, so wish me luck!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>DC Power is getting out of the pumping biz, so is Wholesale solar up north,
hopefully Solar Depot will remain in it. Our only other option is to go through
the plumbing supply houses.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I hear the bugs are being worked out of the Lorentz pump line, anyone have
any experience with them?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Mike Nelson</div>
<div>MD Electric & Solar</div>
<div>Gualala, Ca.<br><br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 7:45 AM, Doug Pratt <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dmpratt@sbcglobal.net" target="_blank">dmpratt@sbcglobal.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="border-left:#ccc 1px solid;margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote">
<div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt">Mike, from
another Mendo native, don’t do the Monoflo. DC Power is getting out of
the pumping biz, and we’re the only Monoflo distributor in the US. Our
experience with Monoflo hasn’t been good. We’ve seen a number of pump failures
recently, support from the manufacturer is pretty thin, and troubleshooting in
the field is poorly developed and documented. Basically it’s… pump not
working? Try plugging in a new controller. Still not working? Plug in a
new pump. Dealers don’t keep expensive pumps on the shelf in case of
breakdowns, so repairs usually end up taking weeks. Not good for
dealer/customer relations!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt">DC Power is
getting out of water pumping because we just don’t have the technical
bandwidth anymore. We’re being pressed so hard by the rapidly-expanding
grid-tie market that our tech support crew is getting loved to death. There’s
no time. I’m sorry to see it go, I found water pumping projects challenging
and interesting, but the tech cloning project has hit some snags.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt">From a sales
perspective, the Grundfos SQ Flex was the best of the lot. We heard the fewest
problems from them, and those problems were usually on the surface (the CU200
control).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt">Doug
Pratt</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt">DC Power
Systems </span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d;font-size:11pt"></span> </p>
<div style="border-bottom:medium none;border-left:medium none;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;padding-right:0in;border-top:#b5c4df 1pt solid;border-right:medium none;padding-top:3pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt"> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Mike Nelson<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 05, 2010 5:37
PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches]
Grundfos</span></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have also installed several Grundfos SQ Flex submersible
well pumps, and had trouble with them, primarily with the control systems, the
low water shut off sensor has failed on several pumps, and the CU200 control
boxes have failed. The pumps themselves have held up so far, and seem to be
very efficient. I wish there were more solar direct well pump options, I've
tried the ETA pumps, the Sunpumps (which are great for low head, low flow) and
am about to try a Monoflow. Any other thoughts?</p></div>
<div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mike Nelson</p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">MD Electric & Solar</p></div>
<div>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt" class="MsoNormal">Gualala Ca.</p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 4:40 PM, Gary Gordon at SYV Solar
<<a href="mailto:gary@syvsolar.com" target="_blank">gary@syvsolar.com</a>>
wrote:</p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Wrenches,</span></p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">I set up the PV arrays
for six Grundfos SQ Flex submersible well pumps on a cattle ranch. The
first three have failed (in exact order of installation) in about a year.
Anyone else experiencing similar problems? I had always heard great things
about their equipment, is it time to look elsewhere? Where?</span></p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Gary Gordon</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Santa Ynez Valley
Solar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">P. O. Box 688</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Santa Ynez, CA
93460</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">805 688-1213</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Gary@SYVSolar.com</span></p></div></div>
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