Safety Rope and Binding5.4
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 in
(6 mm) water well safety rope. It can be purchased from
your pump supplier or from a local pump supplier. Polypro-
pylene 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 13.4, 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 ft (3 – 4 m) 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 separately for inspection or service. See section
5.9, Low Water Probe
WARNING Safety rope for well pump
installation 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
applications
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.
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 ft (3 m)
over the length of the pipe
submersible cable splice
low water probe
(not shown)
tie safety rope here
Safety ropeFigure 17:
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