Another Beckett pump started shorting out and flipping the breaker. What's
with these pumps? This one is epoxy filled and water still got in. What
else could it be? This the second one to do this. Suggestings anyone?
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

"Reel McKoi" wrote:

Another Beckett pump started shorting out and flipping the breaker.

I'm guessing this is on a GFI, and that's what's tripping?
Could be a flaw in the insulation going to the pump.
I trust whatever it's plugged into is properly moisture protected?
Is the GFI in the outlet the pump is plugged into, or back at the main box?
If you can borrow one from the local electronics geek, an isolation
transformer would help.


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

"Tristan" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 10 Aug, 13:26, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
Another Beckett pump started shorting out and flipping the breaker.
What's
with these pumps? This one is epoxy filled and water still got in. What
else could it be? This the second one to do this. Suggestings anyone?

Beckett pumps is like playing the lottery. Some times you win other
and most times you loose. I never have had nay what I would call luck
with the brand either. Its hard to beat Danner Pond Masters / MAG
drives........If its still within its warranty period I would send it
back and also bring it to their attention that it happened to a
previous Beckett pump also.....

We found the recept but the pump was bought 4/06 - a little over a year ago.
My husband doesn't think they'd replace it.

but from what I hear Beckett is not too
very well interested in customer satisfaction. If you bought it at a
big box store like Lowes or Home Depot, I would carry it back to them
and often times they will exchange it for you on the spot. Another to
stay away form is the Little Giant unless you do your homework and buy
the better line of their pumps, as the ones sold in the big box
stores just do not cut it. But it seems Little Giant and Beckett both
have consumer grade that they push in the big box stores.

I had heard so many bad things about Little Giant leaking oil I've avoided
them like the plague.

I have a MAG 7 and a 9 running externally now for over 4 years all
trouble free. I have a mag12 running fully submerged for 5 years all
trouble free. I reserve the becketts and little giants I acquire to
use as emergency pumps or to pump out water features or do water
changes eith etc etc.Thats about all I have faith in them for being
used as.

This is good to know. Thanks. The new pumps I traded koi for this summer
are two Pond Masters and one *GASP* Beckett. I just replaced the leaker
with a Pondmaster. I always keep spare pumps on hand.

AZPonds.com has fairly cheap prices on pumps, and if your lucky you
can also find good prices on the Danner Pond MAster pumps in Petsmart
as they have placed them on slae quite a few times here in thjis
region and the prices were good.

I do stop there once in awhile. I'll check out their small pond section.
Their store here doesn't carry much pond supplies anymore.

--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

"Gary Woods" wrote in message
...
"Reel McKoi" wrote:

Another Beckett pump started shorting out and flipping the breaker.

I'm guessing this is on a GFI, and that's what's tripping?

It's tripping the GFI.

Could be a flaw in the insulation going to the pump.
I trust whatever it's plugged into is properly moisture protected?

Yes, the outlets have covers that keep the rain out but allow air in from
the space under the outlets.

Is the GFI in the outlet the pump is plugged into, or back at the main
box?

It's the first outlet in that circuit and is located in my husband's office.
The outside outlet is on the same circuit as the office. There are 4 pumps
on that circuit. We plugged them in one at a time until we hit pump #4, the
Beckett. Once we replaced the Beckett the thing didn't trip again. All 4
have been running for several hours now.

If you can borrow one from the local electronics geek, an isolation
transformer would help.

A transformer?
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

Now this is fascinating, one of the people "Tristan" trashed on that
website and now they're conversing back and forth as if nothing
happened. Interesting.


On Aug 10, 1:02 pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
"Tristan" wrote in message

ups.com...
On 10 Aug, 13:26, "Reel McKoi" wrote:

Another Beckett pump started shorting out and flipping the breaker.
What's
with these pumps? This one is epoxy filled and water still got in. What
else could it be? This the second one to do this. Suggestings anyone?

Beckett pumps is like playing the lottery. Some times you win other
and most times you loose. I never have had nay what I would call luck
with the brand either. Its hard to beat Danner Pond Masters / MAG
drives........If its still within its warranty period I would send it
back and also bring it to their attention that it happened to a
previous Beckett pump also.....

We found the recept but the pump was bought 4/06 - a little over a year ago.
My husband doesn't think they'd replace it.

but from what I hear Beckett is not too
very well interested in customer satisfaction. If you bought it at a
big box store like Lowes or Home Depot, I would carry it back to them
and often times they will exchange it for you on the spot. Another to
stay away form is the Little Giant unless you do your homework and buy
the better line of their pumps, as the ones sold in the big box
stores just do not cut it. But it seems Little Giant and Beckett both
have consumer grade that they push in the big box stores.

I had heard so many bad things about Little Giant leaking oil I've avoided
them like the plague.

I have a MAG 7 and a 9 running externally now for over 4 years all
trouble free. I have a mag12 running fully submerged for 5 years all
trouble free. I reserve the becketts and little giants I acquire to
use as emergency pumps or to pump out water features or do water
changes eith etc etc.Thats about all I have faith in them for being
used as.

This is good to know. Thanks. The new pumps I traded koi for this summer
are two Pond Masters and one *GASP* Beckett. I just replaced the leaker
with a Pondmaster. I always keep spare pumps on hand.

AZPonds.com has fairly cheap prices on pumps, and if your lucky you
can also find good prices on the Danner Pond MAster pumps in Petsmart
as they have placed them on slae quite a few times here in thjis
region and the prices were good.

I do stop there once in awhile. I'll check out their small pond section.
Their store here doesn't carry much pond supplies anymore.

--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

"Tristan" wrote in message
ups.com...

No need to go the "transformer" route. Check yur power cord very
carefully. Pull the pump out of the pond, and clean and wipe the cord
dry. Under good lighting and maybe even with a good magnifying glass
(depending on how good yur vision is) inspect the cord for any nicks
or cuts or cracks. Even a new pump can have a nicked or cut power
cord. This cut or nick can let in moisture which will wick through the
cords fiberous separators and insulation. Eventually it can get into
the area were the wires terminate to attach to plug or windings of
motor and then it changes resistence values which can play hell with a
GFIC device or if its bad enough it can kick off a regular breaker.
Given enough time, it can eventually wick in enough water even through
a very small minute cut to fill any air spaces in a encapsulated
motor, or even fill an oil filled motor up with water and displace the
oil. Also check where cord enters pump housing itself. I would also
give the housing of the pump a good visual inspection for cracks
etc.......Its not at all uncommon for rodents like field mice etc to
gnaw on a power cord, and eventhe portion that is not in the water can
eventually start wicking in moisture. Put a good load on yuor circuit
that you have the pump plugged into. If its a 15 amp circuit load it
up at 15 amps..using other devices (lamps, electric weed eater,
blower, TV etc etc etc) and see if circuit remains ok. If it trips
without the load rating on it,I would replace the GFCI device or check
for loose or corroded connections.

Have fun, remember live circuits and water do not mix so be carefull!
==============================================
I think I will clean off the cord thoroughly and see if there is some kind
of crack or rodent nibbling. We never thought of that. Thanks. I'll let
you guys know if I find anything. There's old mud and thick algae growing
on the cord that could well have hidden such a thing.

All the pumps have been running without a hitch since we removed the bad
one.

I know he checked the circuit but I don't know how. It does appear the pump
was the problem.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö