Electricity help, please?

[geeker]

I am trying to find out if the wire to my well pump is 115 or 230.
After much fiddling with the multimeter, I got really "bouncy" readings with the max hitting 117.
Would this indicate 115 volt wiring, then?
Is the measurement above the 115 probably calibration variance?
Are AC readings usually "bouncy"?
Thanks for your help!

 

[NCC]

I don't know about 'bouncy', but some variation in line current is normal. And, it sounds to me like you're in the lower range (110-125). But, I'm no electrician. I don't even play one one TV.

When you say 'bouncy', do you mean the reading fluctuates noticeably in a matter of moments? If so, I would suspect your equipment or method of reading. The variation in line current, so far as I know, occurs over longer intervals.

No expert, but I'll give it a bump here. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will see it.

 

[JamesMods]

Careful geeker!

My advice would be to trace the wire back to a circut breaker. The voltage will be on the breaker. If your "Well House" power comes from the home this should be pretty easy to find. It's been a long time since I was was on well water, one pump was 120 another had a three phase pump.

Like other posts, I know just enough to fry myself. If in doubt, get an electrician to stop by.

-james

 

[Bobnoxious]

Wow. Alright. If the 'slots' are not slots, but have a couple right angles to the blades, you're probably looking at 220V. If you have 3 blades on the plug, it's 220V.You won't be able to plug a 110V pump into a 220V socket.

 

[me who]

Bouncy reading, most likely in the meter or meter leads or you got some seriously loose connections.

What's the problem your having?

 

[5cardstud]

I would say with a 99% certainty you have a 110 electric pump. Also all 220 is, is two 110 positive leads and one common or negative. 220 is usually used where heat is involved in residentual electric circuits like in stoves dryers etc. In Europe they use 220 quite a bit and in businesses that consume large amts of electricity like manufacturing in the US.

 

[vapordraggin101]

Google It........

And never touch both wires at the same time.

Good Luck!

 

[Bobnoxious]

Also all 220 is, is two 110 positive leads and one common or negative.

Yes. All homes in the US have 2 110V wires running to the house. They are simply opposite phases.

If you pull the circuit breaker lid off you will find 2 large wires feeding 2 bars in the box. Both are 110V. All white wires are tied to ground. You can see that easily when you notice all the white wires are connected to the giant bare copper wire via a grounding bar.

Any heater or dryer breakers are specially designed to jump across and utilize both bars creating 220V.

 

[AKRooster]

Look at your breaker box if the circuit for you well pump is a single breaker it is 115 if it is a double breaker it is 208. If you are not experienced with a meter and testing live wires just look in your breaker box.