Help with 115/230V

[robl7up]

Hi all,
I installed a new pool pump..its 115/230..I fired it up,and the pump did not start.
I checked voltage at the breaker (2 poles, one line had 115,the other line into the breaker,0 VOLTS)
I have 240v at the MAIN panel IN MY BASEMENT

aren't I suppose to have 115v on BOTH lines going into the breaker OUTSIDE to equal the 230V??

 

[philipma1957]

Hi all,
I installed a new pool pump..its 115/230..I fired it up,and the pump did not start.
I checked voltage at the breaker (2 poles, one line had 115,the other line into the breaker,0 VOLTS)
I have 240v at the MAIN panel IN MY BASEMENT

aren't I suppose to have 115v on BOTH lines going into the breaker OUTSIDE to equal the 230V??

You need an electrician in most spots in the USA to upgrade to 230 volts.

Sounds like your outside line is only 115 volts.

I know how to wire 115 to 230 but do not like to give answers online as you are dealing with water and power get the electrician.

 

[pcgeek11]

Agree with the above. If you are asking this question you need an electrician.

 

[john3850]

Before installing any 115/230 volt motor you need to read the the info on the connector cover first.
You must know if the motor came setup for 115 or 230 volts before installing.
Most of the time you will need change the wiring inside the motor to go from one voltage to another.

 

[robl7up]

Thanks guys,
to be clear, the motor is set for 230V.

I have 230V coming out of the 2 lines at the breaker in my house.

outside where the pump is, I have coming out of the junction box from the floor, there are to wires, one reads 0 VOLTS the other 115VOLTS.

At the buss bar where those 2 wires connect, 0 VOLTS on one wire the other 115volts
at the breaker on the buss bar ,one wire coming out of breaker is 0 VOLTS the other 115 volts..

question is, aren't I suppose to have 115volts on EACH wire?
the fact that only reading 115v and the other 0 volts, could that be the reason my pump isn't starting?
I'm not getting the 230 volts?

if so, I have a bad wire??

 

[john3850]

Coming into your house you should have 3 wires 2-115v and a neutral.
At the main panel there are two 115v buss bars.
On 230v you measure the two separate 115v lines you should get 230 volts.

 

[imagoon]

Thanks guys,
to be clear, the motor is set for 230V.

I have 230V coming out of the 2 lines at the breaker in my house.

outside where the pump is, I have coming out of the junction box from the floor, there are to wires, one reads 0 VOLTS the other 115VOLTS.

At the buss bar where those 2 wires connect, 0 VOLTS on one wire the other 115volts
at the breaker on the buss bar ,one wire coming out of breaker is 0 VOLTS the other 115 volts..

question is, aren't I suppose to have 115volts on EACH wire?
the fact that only reading 115v and the other 0 volts, could that be the reason my pump isn't starting?
I'm not getting the 230 volts?

if so, I have a bad wire??

What type of breaker do you have, is it possible to link to it on Amazon (or otherwise)? You should have a 2 pole bridged breaker. Similar to this:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D...rcuit-Breaker-HOM230CP/202353325?N=5yc1vZbm1e

There should be 2 wires [typically black and red for 230V but may be other solid colors] coming from the breaker and neutral [white] if needed. White is not always required and may not be present. If you are testing from Black to white or Red to white it will be 115v and black to red, 230v.

The fact that you have a measured 115volts makes me think you have the power and neutrals attached which would give you 115volts.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Some panels don't stagger the breakers the same way, you want to make sure that you put the double pole breaker in a spot where it will use both bus bars. Otherwise you're just getting 120 from the same leg on both poles of the breaker so between both poles it will be 0. 240v breakers work by using both bus bars as it's 240 volt between both legs.

As a first troubleshooting step I would test between the two screws on the breaker to see what you get. Be careful playing in there if you short out at the bus bar the amount of current available during a short circuit situation will be MUCH higher than at a regular outlet and it could be an arc flash hazard. Even though you can, it's not worth racking a breaker live either. Turn it off before making any change.

 

[robl7up]

hi imagoon,
yes,that is the breaker I have both in my basement ,where I measured 240V,and at the subpanel outside,where I tested only 115V on one leg,the other other leg test 0 volts.

Red Squirell,hello
yes,I tested the 2 screws at the breaker in the subpanel and only read 115v...115V on one when tested to ground,and 0 volts on the other when tested to ground...when I put both probes of my tested,one on each screw,I only had 115VOLTS.....

Again,I DID have the 240 volts in the house at the MAIN....I'm losing the voltage (115volts) somewhere after the MAIN.

THANK YOU guys,please be patient, I appreciate any help,keep it coming....

 

[imagoon]

hi imagoon,
yes,that is the breaker I have both in my basement ,where I measured 240V,and at the subpanel outside,where I tested only 115V on one leg,the other other leg test 0 volts.

Red Squirell,hello
yes,I tested the 2 screws at the breaker in the subpanel and only read 115v...115V on one when tested to ground,and 0 volts on the other when tested to ground...when I put both probes of my tested,one on each screw,I only had 115VOLTS.....

Again,I DID have the 240 volts in the house at the MAIN....I'm losing the voltage (115volts) somewhere after the MAIN.

THANK YOU guys,please be patient, I appreciate any help,keep it coming....

I suspect a wire break from your description.

 

[john3850]

I suspect the outlet is only a 115v line and not a 230v.
That is the reason he gets 115v at the two wires if there were a break he would have less then
115v.

 

[Micrornd]

Possibly just a bad breaker.
Are you confident enough to replace it yourself?
And/or check the voltage at the bus connections of the breaker?

 

[philipma1957]

you have 3 possible issues

A) you don't know how to measure the main box power

lets try that first:



okay here goes nothing

breaker on bottom right is a 2 pole 240 volt

note heavy gauge and black white wires it feeds my Air conditioner 100 feet away to a secondary panel



so if you meter this breaker in your box the white and black (whatever colors) give you 230-240?

full size link

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/838/0RtB2Z.jpg

 

[imagoon]

I suspect the outlet is only a 115v line and not a 230v.
That is the reason he gets 115v at the two wires if there were a break he would have less then
115v.

He is getting 115v phase to neutral on one and 0v phase to neutral.

Unless he is describing it incorrectly.

 

[imagoon]

you have 3 possible issues

A) you don't know how to measure the main box power

lets try that first:



okay here goes nothing

breaker on bottom right is a 2 pole 240 volt

note heavy gauge and black white wires it feeds my Air conditioner 100 feet away to a secondary panel



so if you meter this breaker in your box the white and black (whatever colors) give you 230-240?

full size link

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/838/0RtB2Z.jpg

Ouch, unmarked white going to a phase.... NECA code violation.

 

[john3850]

hi imagoon,
yes,that is the breaker I have both in my basement ,where I measured 240V,and at the subpanel outside,where I tested only 115V on one leg,the other other leg test 0 volts.

Red Squirell,hello
yes,I tested the 2 screws at the breaker in the subpanel and only read 115v...115V on one when tested to ground,and 0 volts on the other when tested to ground...when I put both probes of my tested,one on each screw,I only had 115VOLTS.....

Again,I DID have the 240 volts in the house at the MAIN....I'm losing the voltage (115volts) somewhere after the MAIN.

THANK YOU guys,please be patient, I appreciate any help,keep it coming....

when I put both probes of my tested,one on each screw,I only had 115 VOLTS.

His voltage by his pump reads 115v that is the main problem

 

[robl7up]

I suspect the outlet is only a 115v line and not a 230v.
That is the reason he gets 115v at the two wires if there were a break he would have less then
115v.

its not an outlet,it is a breaker...i'm getting 115v at one wire coming out of the breaker,and 0 volts out of the other wire,this is at the SUBPANEL,when testing to GROUND.....

At the MAIN in my basement,I'm getting,115volts at BOTH wires, WHEN TESTING TO GROUND..
When I put BOTH probes on EACH wire,I get the 240V....

What imagoon says I believe is indeed correct,I have a break in the wire somewhere..which sucks,now I have to run new wire from house to back yard ,back to subpanel where my pool is..

 

[robl7up]

you have 3 possible issues

A) you don't know how to measure the main box power

lets try that first:



okay here goes nothing

breaker on bottom right is a 2 pole 240 volt

note heavy gauge and black white wires it feeds my Air conditioner 100 feet away to a secondary panel



so if you meter this breaker in your box the white and black (whatever colors) give you 230-240?

full size link

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/838/0RtB2Z.jpg

YES,Phil,thats what I have in my MAIN,in my basement,I get 240volts there.

 

[philipma1957]

YES,Phil,thats what I have in my MAIN,in my basement,I get 240volts there.

well basically that sucks.

Either the wire is broken or you have a hidden junction box that you are not aware of that would be good if you find a junction box in between the main panel and the sub panel outside.

So before you dig everything up.

Did you ever have a 240 volt pump attached and working?

Put another way did you ever use the circuit?

also an obvious question if you are black and white in the main break does the sub-panel have the same black and white panels.

Did your wire the panel?

Was it there before you moved into the home?

 

[robl7up]

well basically that sucks.

Either the wire is broken or you have a hidden junction box that you are not aware of that would be good if you find a junction box in between the main panel and the sub panel outside.

So before you dig everything up.

Did you ever have a 240 volt pump attached and working?

Put another way did you ever use the circuit?

also an obvious question if you are black and white in the main break does the sub-panel have the same black and white panels.

Did your wire the panel?

Was it there before you moved into the home?

yes,there was a pump before hand when we moved in the house,so it was existing..and working...then we had a STRONG power surge in the neighborhood.

yes,wires are the same,black and red actually....looks like I'm screwed..man,what are the chances..have you ever heard of this Phil?

 

[imagoon]

yes,there was a pump before hand when we moved in the house,so it was existing..and working...then we had a STRONG power surge in the neighborhood.

yes,wires are the same,black and red actually....looks like I'm screwed..man,what are the chances..have you ever heard of this Phil?

Surges can burn wire caps and couplers. You need to trace the circuit and reterminate, correct or replace the bad cable.