Monday, January 18, 2010

An outside circuit breaker that controls the sewage pump underground. Switches are thumpin up&down. Problem?

Our circuit breaker outside that controls our underground pump is making loud thumps. Everything seems to be running ok inside the house. The switches to the left (not the on and off switches) are going up and down at different intervals. It makes a loud thumping noise inside, sounds like a bird trapped under the house. Before we pay $300 for the service guy...any suggestions or thoughts?An outside circuit breaker that controls the sewage pump underground. Switches are thumpin up%26amp;down. Problem?
Are you sure it is a circuit-breaker and not a contactor (high-amperage magnetic switch)? Contactors can be noisy as they age. And if it is short-cycling it will become even louder.An outside circuit breaker that controls the sewage pump underground. Switches are thumpin up%26amp;down. Problem?
I agree it's probably the control contactor that is making the noise. This may be caused by a switch that is stuck. Only a qualified service person can tell just what the reason is. It depends on the system design about the type of switch and if the system needs to emptied before it is serviced. If it is a stuck switch, it may just be stuck on some material in the tank. It could also be a bad switch, but that is less common. You could go in the system yourself and clean the switch, or pay the service man to do it. It's up to you.

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