MagDrive pump is tripping GFI....time to replace?

After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay

You may want to check your GFIC before replacing the pump - I had one go bad
Gale :~)

"Jay Adair" wrote in message
...
After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay

(Mag Drive 2400 gph pump, 600 gallon pond, 50 gallon filter, 7 feet of
lift....approx. turn-over once / hour)

Well, I opened it and pulled out the impeller....the surface of the impeller
has lost some of the coating and the bits of the coating seem to have gotten
between the impeller and the surrounding magnets and grooved the remaining
surface of the impeller....in short, it appears shot......

......so......spend $30 for a replacement impeller for what turns out to be a
3 year old pump, or spring for $145 for a new pump.....

Anybody done the impeller swap? Longetivity of repair?


"Jay Adair" wrote in message
...
After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay

It still seems to work fine. Without the pump plugged in, other items
plugged into this circuit work properly....
Thanks,

Jay

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
You may want to check your GFIC before replacing the pump - I had one go
bad
Gale :~)

"Jay Adair" wrote in message
...
After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started
tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging
the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case
to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time
to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 11:00:52 -0600, "Jay Adair"
wrote:

After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay

When my pump went it was the body of the pump, not the impeller.
--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 13:31:56 -0600, "Jay Adair"
wrote:

(Mag Drive 2400 gph pump, 600 gallon pond, 50 gallon filter, 7 feet of
lift....approx. turn-over once / hour)

Well, I opened it and pulled out the impeller....the surface of the impeller
has lost some of the coating and the bits of the coating seem to have gotten
between the impeller and the surrounding magnets and grooved the remaining
surface of the impeller....in short, it appears shot......

.....so......spend $30 for a replacement impeller for what turns out to be a
3 year old pump, or spring for $145 for a new pump.....

Anybody done the impeller swap? Longetivity of repair?


"Jay Adair" wrote in message
...
After 2 years of perfect operation, my Magdrive pump just started tripping
the GFI after 20 seconds of operation. Resetting the GFI and plugging the
pump back in only gets another 20 seconds....

The intake opening of the pump is clear, but I haven't opened the case to
check the impeller for blockage yet. Is this about normal life....time to
replace the pump if impeller is clear?

Thanks for any input,

Jay



Plug it in without the impeller. If it still trips, then a new
impeller will do no good, except to be a spare.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

"Jay Adair" wrote:
(Mag Drive 2400 gph pump, 600 gallon pond, 50 gallon filter, 7 feet of
lift....approx. turn-over once / hour)

Well, I opened it and pulled out the impeller....the surface of the impeller
has lost some of the coating and the bits of the coating seem to have gotten
between the impeller and the surrounding magnets and grooved the remaining
surface of the impeller....in short, it appears shot......

.....so......spend $30 for a replacement impeller for what turns out to be a
3 year old pump, or spring for $145 for a new pump.....

Anybody done the impeller swap? Longetivity of repair?

Without answering your question, I can't see how impeller damage is causing the
GFCI to trip -- you should be able to run the motor in any situation from full
stall to no load without tripping the GFCI. If the outlet is OK, then
something in the pump is toast. Have you checked the cord? Assuming this is
a true Mag pump, those guys are epoxy sealed -- it'd take some work to get
anything into the pump to the point you're getting a significant leakage to
ground.

"Andy Hill" wrote in message
...
"Jay Adair" wrote:
(Mag Drive 2400 gph pump, 600 gallon pond, 50 gallon filter, 7 feet of
lift....approx. turn-over once / hour)

Well, I opened it and pulled out the impeller....the surface of the
impeller
has lost some of the coating and the bits of the coating seem to have
gotten
between the impeller and the surrounding magnets and grooved the
remaining
surface of the impeller....in short, it appears shot......

.....so......spend $30 for a replacement impeller for what turns out to
be a
3 year old pump, or spring for $145 for a new pump.....

Anybody done the impeller swap? Longetivity of repair?

Without answering your question, I can't see how impeller damage is
causing the
GFCI to trip -- you should be able to run the motor in any situation from
full
stall to no load without tripping the GFCI. If the outlet is OK, then
something in the pump is toast. Have you checked the cord? Assuming
this is
a true Mag pump, those guys are epoxy sealed -- it'd take some work to get
anything into the pump to the point you're getting a significant leakage
to
ground.


I think after seeing the damage to the impeller (and some collateral damage
to the inside of the impeller housing) I am going to get a new pump and skip
the repair process.

Thanks to all.....

Jay