New Whisperflo Trips Breaker

[jzerf]

I just finished installing my new 1.5 HP Whisperflo Pump (one speed 230V). My old pump pump was a 2HP Mustang (230v). I connected electrical with ground going to ground, one hot to Line 1 and the other to Line 2. I fired up the pump and after about 3 or 4 seconds of the pump trying to prime it trips the 20 amp breaker. Suspect of my connections I reconnected and made sure they were tight, fired up the pump again only to have it trip the breaker again. I pulled the connections off one more time and pulled out my voltage meter and both line 1 and line 2 measure 120 v. I don't understand as the old pump was running fine with the same electrical circuit and runs at a higher amperage rating then the whisperflo.

One thing I don't understand is the factory has a white wired connection on one of the Line 2 poles that connects somewhere into the motor. does this white wire stay connected? Of course Pentair seems to have no trouble shooting information anywhere that I can find for electrical issues.

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem with the Whisperflo? I can't believe I may have to call for pool service because of a tripping breaker!

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[Poconos]

Don't know anything specific about that pump but does it come up to speed before the breaker trips?
al

[jzerf]

It seems like it's trying to get up to speed, starts drawing water and then trips the breaker.

[Poconos]

Open the pump basket lid so it can't pump water to essentially unload the motor. The motor should come up to speed and you will hear the starter winding switch click as it opens. When you kill power you should hear it click closed as the speed slows down. The slowdown should take a couple seconds since is isn't pumping. If the starter winding is staying powered that would cause a breaker trip. It's only used to get the thing spinning in the right direction and overcome initial load.
Will be travelling tomorrow and won't be back on the forum until tomorrow evening sometime but may check in real early in the morning.
Al

[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