Warrick Liquid Level Control

[Peter Easthope]

The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.

http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg

The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.

This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level
reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.
Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.
The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,
can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.

Questions.

* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.
A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.

* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.

* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging
from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?
My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher
voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?

* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is
running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the
same sound?

* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible
but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how
can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power
to run the motor?

* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?

Thanks for replies, ... Peter E.

 

[N_Cook]

On 09/10/2013 19:24, Peter Easthope wrote:

The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.

http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg

The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.

This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level
reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.
Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.
The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,
can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.

Questions.

* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.
A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.

* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.

* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging
from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?
My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher
voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?

* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is
running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the
same sound?

* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible
but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how
can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power
to run the motor?

* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?

Thanks for replies, ... Peter E.

Does pilot duty relate to a second, preliminary pump, for clearing air
from the system , priming, before the main pump will cut in?
A submersible pump would not require priming unless an air/gaseous block
gets in there

 

[Peter Easthope]

On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:47:21 AM UTC-7, N_Cook wrote:

Does pilot duty relate to a second, preliminary pump, for clearing air
from the system , priming, before the main pump will cut in?

In this case there is only one pump.

A submersible pump would not require priming unless an air/gaseous block
gets in there

The pump is located at the well head. To my understanding it is a shallow well jet pump as described here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eductor-jet_pump#Well_pumps

Thanks for the reply, ... Peter E.

 

[Peter Easthope]

On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:24:35 AM UTC-7, Peter Easthope wrote:

The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.



http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg



The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.



This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level

reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.

Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.

The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,

can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.



Questions.



* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.

A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.



* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.



* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging

from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?

My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher

voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?



* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is

running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the

same sound?



* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible

but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how

can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power

to run the motor?



* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?



Thanks for replies, ... Peter E.

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

On 10/10/13 13:33, Peter Easthope wrote:

On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:24:35 AM UTC-7, Peter Easthope wrote:
The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.



http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg



The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.



This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level

reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.

Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.

The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,

can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.



Questions.



* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.

A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.



* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.



* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging

from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?

My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher

voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?



* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is

running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the

same sound?



* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible

but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how

can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power

to run the motor?



* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?



Thanks for replies, ... Peter E

..
Since various moves of the contacts produce different effects (including
startup) try bridging the contact terminals. If the motor starts then a
more thorough examination of the contact mechanism would be in order. In
particular the travel of the operating rod.

 

[bud--]

On 10/9/2013 12:24 PM, Peter Easthope wrote:

The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.

http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg

The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.

This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level
reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.
Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.
The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,
can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.

Questions.

* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.
A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.

My guess is this is the Warrick model number.

* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.

Likely specific to Warrick.

* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging
from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?
My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher
voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?

* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is
running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the
same sound?

Relays can hum when they are energized. If powered by 50/60Hz the
varying current can make the relay armature vibrate, particularly if the
armature does not seat tightly.

* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible
but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how
can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power
to run the motor?

* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?

Pilot duty is using the contacts for low current control. Some contacts
are rated only for pilot duty - maybe controlling an external relay or
contactor. In this case pilot duty is using the contacts for low current
application and the voltage can be much higher.

 

On Wed, 9 Oct 2013 11:24:35 -0700 (PDT), Peter Easthope
<peasthope@shaw.ca> wrote:

The specification label from the inside of the cover of a Warrick liquid level control is visible here.

http://members.shaw.ca/peasthope/WarrickLevelControl.jpeg

The power supply and primary coil are 115 V. The secondary coils are 300 V.

This control switches a well pump which should start when the water level
reaches the upper probe and stop when the level drops below the lower probe.
Currently the pump fails to start reliably. The contacts were just cleaned.
The bar holding the contacts, which should carry current to the pump motor,
can be visibly displaced. Then there is a hum sound but the motor doesn't start. If the contacts are pushed open and then allowed to recoil shut, the motor starts.

Questions.

* Can anyone explain the TYPE notation? "TYPE 1C1D1" in this case.
A 1C1D0 appeared on eBay recently.

* Can anyone explain the FORM notation? "FORM 49" in this case.

* Listings of similar Warrick controls on eBay have secondary voltages ranging
from 15 V to 500 V. What are the criteria for choosing the secondary voltage?
My best guess is that lower voltages might work in salt water and higher
voltages might be necessary in distilled water. Is this topic documented?

* How is the hum sound generated? Presumeably it can exist when the motor is
running but be masked by the loud motor sound. Will a new control make the
same sound?

* With the relay assembled, the end of the contact holding bar is visible
but the contacts are not visible. Given that the contacts are clean, how
can the contact holder be displaced without delivering sufficient power
to run the motor?

* What is meant by "PILOT DUTY" on the label?

Thanks for replies, ... Peter E.

Greetings Peter,
The hum could be from the motor itself because it is failing to spin.
There are different schemes to start single phase motors spinning.
When one fails then the motor shaft just oscillates back and forth.
And the motor will hum. If you feel the motor while the humming is
going on and it is vibrating then for some reason the run windings of
the motor are energized but the start windings are not. The pump motor
is probably a capacitor start motor. Is there a hump on the motor
housing? I have seen capacitor start motors that had a failing
capacitor do just what you describe, fail to start and then when
switched off and then back on work. So look for a capacitor somewhere
in the motor circuit. They are sometimes located at the end of the
motor under a plastic or metal cap. There might even be a label on the
motor stating the capacitor size. Anyway, they are cheap so if it has
one replace it and see what happens. You should have an extra
capacitor hanging around anyway because they do fail. My neighbor's
well pump had a capacitor on a Sunday and they didn't have a
replacement so I took the one out of my bandsaw and let them use it
until they could get a new one. Also, even though the contacts appear
clean they may not be conducting as well as you think. I just replaced
the pressure switch on a compressor because even after I cleaned the
contacts one pair had 3 ohms resistance while the other pair had 1600
ohms resistance. And this caused the motor to not start reliably.
Eric