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6.2 Safety Rope and Binding
Safety rope can prevent loss of the pump. If
the drop pipe breaks, the rope will prevent
strain on the electrical cable and can be used
to pull the pump out. Use 1/4" (6mm) water
well safety rope. It can be purchased from
your pump supplier or from a local pump
supplier. Polypropylene marine rope is also
good. DO NOT use nylon.
Secure the safety rope at the wellhead
Prepare to tie the rope inside the well casing.
If your well cap does not have a place to tie
the rope, drill a hole in the casing and install
an eye-bolt. Prepare this detail BEFORE you
install the pump. (See Section 13.3 Wellhead
Assembly for Drilled Wells.)
Bind the drop pipe/cable/wires/rope with
tape Lay out the pipe, submersible cable,
probe wires and rope on the ground. Do not
twist them together. Bind everything to the
pipe about every 10 feet (3-4m) using vinyl
tape. Use either standard (UL-listed) electrical
tape (about 6 to 8 turns) or “pipe wrap tape”,
which is wider and requires fewer turns. Pipe
wrap tape is available from plumbing and
electric supply stores. Remember that the
pipe will stretch, and the cable will not. Leave
a slight excess length of cable between each
wrap as illustrated.
WARNING Do not use nylon
cable ties in water. Nylon
absorbs water and gets weak
after a few years. To bind the
pump cable to the drop pipe, use
vinyl electrical tape or pipe-wrap
tape.
WARNING when using flexible
POLYETHYLENE (PE) pipe,
allow for pipe stretch. Make the
cable, probe wires and rope
longer than the pipe, to prevent
tension when the pipe stretches.
>> cable & wires – 1.5% longer than pipe
>> rope – 1 % longer than pipe
Distribute the excess length along the length
of the pipe (as illustrated) and leave a little
more excess length around the splice.
If the water is highly mineralized or has high
biological activity, you may choose to hang
the low-water probe separately from the pipe,
cable and rope, so it can be pulled up sepa-
rately for inspection or service. See Section
5.9 Low Water Probe.
WARNING Safety
rope for well
pump installa-
tion is for
emergency
pump removal. It
must not be a
primary means
of support. Make
it slightly longer
than the drop
pipe so it does
not bear any
weight.
WARNING Do
not use nylon
rope in water.
Nylon absorbs
water and
weakens after a
few years. Failure
can cause
damage or loss of
your equipment.
Use
polypropylene
rope made for
water well or
marine applica-
tions
WARNING
Plastic rope will
weaken from
long exposure to
sunlight. Secure
it INSIDE the well
casing to avoid
exposure. If sun
exposure cannot
be avoided, use
stainless steel
wire rope.
motor pump end
Bind the submersible cable,
low-water probe wires and
safety rope to the pipe.
Pipe wrap tape or electrical
tape located at about every
10 feet (3 m) over the length
of the pipe
submersible cable splice
low water probe
(not shown)
Tie safety rope here
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