<div dir="ltr">Dana my 1/2 HP 240 volt pump draws about &lt; 2 amps, which is maybe 3.3 amps if it is 120 volts.  I wonder if the high volt drop is leaving your pump in locked rotor for a long time, in which case a soft start will not help.  Perhaps a buck-boost transformer  <span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline">(about 150 watts)</span> boosting 16% would get the pump started faster?  Do the wire size and length for calculating volt drop.  then use a 3.3 amp soft start.       </div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 9, 2018 at 6:24 PM,  <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:penobscotsolar@midmaine.com" target="_blank">penobscotsolar@midmaine.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi Dana,<br>
   We have been using Grundfos SQ-O 1/2 hp, 5 GPM (or they have a 10 GPM<br>
model) soft start pumps for years, with great outcomes. We have sold 60<br>
or so over the years with no returns.<br>
<br>
Daryl<br>
<div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
&gt; Hey all you solar wise guys,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; I am looking for a recommendation based on your experience, not just data<br>
&gt; sheets for a 120 volt-9.8 amp-1/2HP well pump soft starter. Every time the<br>
&gt; well pump starts the SW4024 groans and the lights flicker.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; There are a lot of units that claim to soft start a ½ HP, but the reality<br>
&gt; is<br>
&gt; that they claim ½ HP but are limited to 3.3 amp+/- output. I asked how<br>
&gt; this<br>
&gt; is and was met with the usual, \u201cgee gosh I am not sure.\u201d I have one in<br>
&gt; hand<br>
&gt; now from ABB that is guilty of this claim.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Some units claim to meet the spec but then you must limit the wire length<br>
&gt; to<br>
&gt; 30 meters. The well is 150\u2019 from the house &amp; 120 ft deep so a 270\u2019 wire<br>
&gt; run<br>
&gt; with what the well guy threw in 18 years ago. VFW cable [multi strand<br>
&gt; cable]<br>
&gt; is a partial answer but not down in the well.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Somewhere down the road the inverter &amp; the well pump will get replaced but<br>
&gt; for now it is working. The newer 3PH wild AC drives are amazing on a<br>
&gt; Radian<br>
&gt; Inverter. You cannot even tell the well is pumping till it has been for a<br>
&gt; while and the fans kick on.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Suggestions &amp; directions that have proven reliable for you?<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Thanks.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; ------------------------------<wbr>------------------------------<wbr>----------------<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Dana Orzel                              Great Solar Works, Inc.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; C - 208.721.7003                       <a href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com">dana@solarwork.com</a><br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Idaho Contractor - # 028765         Idaho PV # 028374<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; NABCEP # 051112-136                       <a href="http://www.solarwork.biz" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.solarwork.biz</a><br>
</div></div>&gt; &lt;<a href="http://www.solarwork.biz" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.solarwork.biz</a>&gt;<br>
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