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Answering Your Water Pump Questions

Answering Your Water Pump Questions

with RPS Engineer Mike
Pressure tank for well pump system

How to Adjust a Squared 30/50 Regular Action Pressure Switch

Let's review how to adjust the pressure settings of a regular action pressure switch. Most likely, your pressure switch arrives factory set to 30/50 PSI. You'll learn how to increase the pressure from 30/50 to 40/60 or lower the pressure from 30/50 to 20/40.

30/50 pressure setting refers to the low operating point (30psi in this case) and the high operating point (50psi in this case). A water pump pairs with a pressure switch by waiting for the pressure switch to tell the pump to turn on or off. And usually the pump and pressure switch is paired with a pressure tank. As the pressure in the pressure tank drops to 30psi, the pressure switch tells the pump to turn on. As the pump ramps up pressure and the pressure inside the tank reaches 50psi the pressure switch recognizes that the system has reached the high operating point and tells the water pump to turn off. 

Take off the grey outer cover. You’ll see two springs with adjustable nuts. When a pressure switch is set to 30/50 psi, Nut #1 will be located about 1-⅝” from the bottom plate to top of the nut. A clockwise turn of the nut increases the pressure range. Nut #2 is located 1-1/4" from the bottom plate to the top of the nut when there is a 20psi differential between the upper and lower operating points. A clockwise turn will increase the high operating point.

Pressure switch for house well system

 

Adjusting the Range with Nut #1

  • Changes the low operating point AND the high operating point simultaneously. 
  • 2-3 PSI change per full rotation
Diagram to adjust pressure switch

(Not Recommended) Adjusting the Differential with Nut #2 

  • Increases or decreases High Operating Point ONLY, keeps Low Operating Point the same. 2-3 PSI per full turn.  
  • Very hard to re-adjust back to the 20 PSI factory setting gap 
  • DEADHEAD WARNING if the differential is adjusted up to a pressure that the pump is not able to produce (ex. 70 psi when the max head on the pump only allows for 60 psi). The pump will NOT SHUT OFF. Turn Nut #2 counter clockwise until the pump can successfully shut off 

 

Water system pressure switch adjustment diagram
Pressure switch for house well system

Wiring 

  • Connect both wires on same side, otherwise electrical signal will not operate. 

 

Adjusting Bladder / Pressure Tanks

  • Your Pressure Tank should be set to at least 2 PSI less than the Low Operating Point setting. Example: if your pressure switch is set to 30/50, the pressure tank setting should be 28 PSI.

 

Previous article Why is it so expensive to replace a water pump?
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