Thanks. I don't believe the fancy orange box thing will work for me but I'm looking at other options.
Electrical Wiring, House Wiring or Home Wiring Complete Guide had a wiring diagram for pumps, although, I'm slightly confused since my brain likes 3D/ photo style images to visualize. It looks like lines are being spliced.
The info it gave was the following
Float Switch Connection:
The float switch consists of three wires. To check the float switch we will set the Multimeter on continuity it contains red, blue and black wires in which black is neutral wire. We will connect the multimeter one probe with the black wire and the other with the blue wire when the float switch will be at bottom it will act as closed circuit and give signal to the motor to turn on. It give beep on multimeter which show that it act as closed circuit. Now connect the one probe of the multimeter with the black and other with the red wire when the float switch will move upward it act like a closed circuit.
Float Switch Working :
We will connect miniature circuit breaker (mcb) which automatically switches off electrical circuit during an abnormal condition of the network means in overload condition as well as a faulty condition with live and neutral wire at input. Connect the output of the mcb with the contactor input. Magnetic Contactor is for lossy magnetic flow generated with current in winding of such devices as transformer, throttles, magnetic cartridges filters and circuit. Output of contactor is connected with the motor. Connect the wire of the float switch with the neutral wire. Connect the L1 of the contactor with the A1. Connect the blue wire of the float switch with the A2 of the contactor.
I guess the MCB (Mini Circuit Breaker) is an extra protection of sorts? I'm trying to find the right kind because it's recommended.
I found a
float switch with a 5year warranty. Seller gave some details-- said I would need a contactor. My friend thinks my pump has 2 hots and a ground.
Seller's answer:
To be clear, there are two types of 220 V service:
1. The pump received 220 V on a “hot leg“ and has a neutral.
2. The pump has “too hot legs“ which are in all actuality -110 V, and positive 110 V, and a ground.
In scenario number one, the float switch can activate and deactivate the pump directly and should be placed in line on the hot leg.
And scenario number two, a contactor or relay should be used to start and stop the pump, and the float switch should be used to turn the relay on or off.
I honestly don't know how to check which my pump has. But with the voltage mine can pull (up to 230v) it is high voltage and thus a relay is not sturdy enough so it would be a contactor.
The float that comes with the above float switch is not suitable for potable water but the seller linked this
SJE Rhombus 1002230 Cable Weight that is rated for potable water.
There is also this switch:
Baomain 10M Cable Float Switch Water Level Controller for Tank Pump
As a companion I saw
Water Well Submersible Pump Wire Splice Kit Schraiberpump for #10-12-14-16 AWG that would be nicer than using wire nuts. Need to see if I have a heat gun or something somewhere to do the shrink wrap or just tape it with electrical tape out of being lazy.
I'm currently trying to find the right kind of contactor. I need at least 13A (to play on the safe side) but am not sure what voltage. Since the pump can go from 115 or 208-230 and I have no idea how to tell what it is pulling. I wish my pump guy knew about this stuff. I'd ask the local electrician if I could pin him down for more than a few minutes, but I suspect he doesn't know about pump setups.
Another setup I saw from a Youtube video (not always the most reliable sources) shows this wiring diagram:
Do I just leave the red line floating and unconnected? Or do I connect it to a ground wire?
I'm hoping that the MCB and contactors will have some sort of instructions on what wires go in and what ones come out. Need to figure out the best way to splice the hot and neutral wires and still have them sealed up nicely.