Help with Amtrol Digital well pressure switch

Cool_CA

I’m hoping you can help me narrow down a problem with my well pump not coming back on after a successful on/off cycle. I have a roughly 4 year old Amtrol DC1 pressure switch connected to a Franklin Model 2823018110 Pump controller (magnetic contactor style). Prior to installing the DC1 I had a basic Square D pressure switch to the same Franklin controller. The pump is a submersible Goulds 2 HP, both it and the Franklin are about 7 years old, the pressure tank is an Amtrol Well-X-Trol (tank is in perfect shape, inside the garage and is set up properly and passes bladder testing).

In the past week or so I have been chasing a problem where my well pump will go through a complete on/off cycle after being down for some time then not restarting a second cycle. If water continues to flow, it appears the DC1 does it’s normal pump start request at the lower cut-in set-point (flashes 88, blank and the line pressure), but the pump does not come on. I hear no clicking sound from the Franklin controller when this condition exists. After 5-10 minutes the controller will finally click and the pump starts with a normal off at high limit.

Some limited testing data: I have a basic VOM and have checked the voltage to ground on all four lugs of the DC1. I get readings of 117 – 119 Volts on all four regardless if it has not cycled recently, during a normal pump start, is in the middle of a pump cycle (pump running), at the pump off limit shut off, or after the pump has been turned off. It also has the same readings when an unsuccessful pump start request is being made by the DC1.

One other point is as the DC1 flashes on unsuccessful pump start request, I notice the display cycles dim to bright again. The DC1 is not signaling any errors at all.

My old Square D had standard contact points that were either open or closed, depending on pressure and pump on/off needs. I have no clue as to how the DC1 makes the Franklin controller work properly and as noted above the voltages are always the same on the DC1, no matter what state it is in.

When the pump does come on it will run for as long as needed without any abnormal operation (running sprinklers, etc.).

Can you give me any possible things to test and eliminate on the DC1 before I just try putting the old Square D pressure switch back on? I am competent working with electrical and doing tests with my VOM. Also: is there a thermal shut off in the Franklin controller and how would I check that?

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer…

Cool_CA

No need for anyone to respond, other than if any other person happens on these posts they need to read the extremely scant information out there on the internet that suggests Amtrol knows they had a problem with the DC1 pressure switches. AND If yo have one and you are having any problem with your well/pump system, you should suspect IT first!

Going back to an old-style breaker points pressure switch now. Chaulk that up to $250 worth of bad Well Pump Company advice... (sorry, their profit)