Last week I reinstalled my well pump for the yard. I noticed the pressure switch was shot so I went to Lowes and brought a replacement one. When I installed the switch it wouldn't shut the pump off, even at 70 pounds of pressure. I replaced the pressure gauge to make sure I was at 70 pounds. The new switch was defected. I returned it back to Lowes and brought another one but this one had a shut off switch mounted to the right side. This pressure switch wouldn't let the pump come on...lol. Upon looking at how the switch was made, it was made wrong. The contacts were open at all times instead of being closed. Again I returned that switch and yet brought another. While I was at Lowes I looked at every one of the pressure switches and noticed everyone that had the shut off switch were backwards and the contacts were all open.Nine different switches later I really started to question what I was doing. I removed the line going from the pump to the pressure switch anf had 71.32 pounds of pressure. Plenty to shut off a 30/50 or a 40/60 pressure switch. I went to Home Depot brought a different brand and it worked perfect right out of the box. All the switches at Lowes were made in China. The Home Depot switches were made in the USA. I guess in China there pressure must be backwards...lol. It just goes to show you that you can buy a whole batch of defected parts. I showed the manager at Lowes what I had found and proved to them that they are defected...I wonder if they pulled all of them.
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Wanna go nuts?
- Thread starter hey_moe
- Start date
Moparmike
Administrator
LOL! Yup, been there...done that.
Menards has those cheap import pressure switches too. Still garbage though...the contacts were burnt off in less than one season on our farm's well pressure system for the cattle waterers.
Were they reverse only, or were they a dual-action switch? Like this one... http://www.drillspot.com/products/122530/Square_D_9013GSG2J35R_Commercial_Pressure_Switch?s=16
A reverse-acting switch is used to control a takeaway pump instead of a supply pump...not what you're looking for but they do make em. It'll kick on at a higher pressure and run the pump until it hits the lower setpoint.
You need to watch the pressure rating label. If the larger number is listed first (ex: 50-30) it's reverse-acting. If smaller firs (ex: 30-50), it's standard acting.
Sounds like Lowes made a boo-boo and ordered the wrong one from their supplier...not the first time a big-box has ever messed up.
:
Try to find your local small-town hardware store (Ace, True Value, Coast to Coast, etc). Around here, they still have a better chance of getting better quality parts and you're not feeding the corporate big-box conglomerates quite as bed.
Square D brand is still the only way to go for decent pump or air compressor pressure switches. Lots of places online to order too if you can't get em local anymore.
All of the cheapies, even the off-brand US ones, are junk.
Menards has those cheap import pressure switches too. Still garbage though...the contacts were burnt off in less than one season on our farm's well pressure system for the cattle waterers.
Were they reverse only, or were they a dual-action switch? Like this one... http://www.drillspot.com/products/122530/Square_D_9013GSG2J35R_Commercial_Pressure_Switch?s=16
A reverse-acting switch is used to control a takeaway pump instead of a supply pump...not what you're looking for but they do make em. It'll kick on at a higher pressure and run the pump until it hits the lower setpoint.
You need to watch the pressure rating label. If the larger number is listed first (ex: 50-30) it's reverse-acting. If smaller firs (ex: 30-50), it's standard acting.
Sounds like Lowes made a boo-boo and ordered the wrong one from their supplier...not the first time a big-box has ever messed up.
:Try to find your local small-town hardware store (Ace, True Value, Coast to Coast, etc). Around here, they still have a better chance of getting better quality parts and you're not feeding the corporate big-box conglomerates quite as bed.
Square D brand is still the only way to go for decent pump or air compressor pressure switches. Lots of places online to order too if you can't get em local anymore.
All of the cheapies, even the off-brand US ones, are junk.
If it was like the nearest Lowe's to here, those switches are still on the shelf and will be until they are all sold. I go to the local mom and pop hardware store here in town. I'd much rather support them if they've got what I need.
I haven't had to replace a pressure switch on a well pump in years. Now that I've said that, I'll probably have to in the next week or so..
I haven't had to replace a pressure switch on a well pump in years. Now that I've said that, I'll probably have to in the next week or so..
Well there are no hardware stores around here. Closest on is over 20 miles away..lol. I live in da city. Lowes is about 2 miles from my house.After I got the pressure right where I like it the screw that holds the centrifugal switch came loose and that effected the contact from start to run....lol It would run for a few minutes and kick out on overload. This is how my luck has been lately. Once I pulled the back bell housing and tightened it up all went well. 
Remember also that Chinese read from right to left...
...and turn counterclockwise instead of clockwise!
I remember I had a watch that turned counterclockwise when I was a kid..
I was the coolest student in the class then..
Yes the watch was made in China...
Made in ROC
...and turn counterclockwise instead of clockwise!
I remember I had a watch that turned counterclockwise when I was a kid..
I was the coolest student in the class then..
Yes the watch was made in China...
Made in ROC
cheezyflier
Charter Member
yeah, i tried about 5 alternators in a gran torino i had a long time ago. it took that many till i got one that worked. good ol pep boys. oh, and it was raining for 3 days while i did all that. i learned to change an alternator really fast. from proc
however -
not everything made in china is junk. until a couple weks ago, i owned this chinese amp:
it's 18 watts, hand wired eyelet board, all tube, with spring reverb, effects loop, and a nice cab holding a 12" celestion greenback. tone for days.
however -
not everything made in china is junk. until a couple weks ago, i owned this chinese amp:
it's 18 watts, hand wired eyelet board, all tube, with spring reverb, effects loop, and a nice cab holding a 12" celestion greenback. tone for days.
Cheezyflier, I used to own a 72 Gran Torino wagon that went through brake master cylinders about one a week. I kept getting them replaced under warranty from Autozone. Finally, I bit the bullet and just bought one from NAPA and never had to replace it again as long as I owned the car.
Never did have any luck with anything electrical from Pep Boys.
Never did have any luck with anything electrical from Pep Boys.