How a Pump Saver Can Protect Your Well Pump from Burnout: Installation & Setup Tips

Welcome back to Base Camp WNC!

As promised, I’m doing a quick video on this device called the Pump Saver. I picked it up on Amazon for around $389. We're currently in a house with a low-producing well — about half a gallon per minute. The property is rented out, and they have a water system set up that makes it workable. But they had a major issue before: the well would keep running dry.

With such low output, the well could only produce about 100 to 150 gallons before running dry. That led to frequent pump problems. This is where the Pump Saver comes in. It monitors the electrical current going to the pump. When the water level drops too low, the current changes — and the device automatically shuts off the pump to prevent damage.

Let me take you inside and show you how it works...
I've already removed the cover, and you'll see I put a piece of tape over the green indicator light — it was interfering with the camera. To calibrate it, simply turn this screw to “calibrate.” With the pump switch open (meaning it needs water), turn on the power. The pump will run for about 10 seconds, then shut off.

After that, adjust this knob to your desired delay setting. I’ve set mine to 180 minutes (that’s 3 hours). That means when the water level drops and the pump shuts off, the system will wait 3 hours to allow the well to recover — in this case, bringing back around 90 gallons of water. Once recovered, the pump kicks back on, pumps out the 90 gallons, shuts off again, and waits another 3 hours. It's a cycle designed to protect the well and pump.

Then, set the sensitivity using the knob right here.
As for wiring: the power feed from the house connects here — this is a 220V system. One wire goes into the terminal marked “IN,” and the other into the second “IN.” Don’t forget to connect your ground wire. The output wire, marked “OUT,” also gets a ground and runs to the pump switch.

The wire then runs down to the pump controller. That’s all there is to the basic setup. Once everything’s wired, the green light will indicate system status.

The unit has a series of status lights and error indicators, such as:

• Dry Run
• Dead Heading
• Overcurrent
• Voltage Fault
• Rapid Cycling
  

All of these are explained clearly on the panel, so you can easily read and diagnose any issues.

And this device isn’t just for wells. You can use it with pumps in cisterns, transfer tanks, ponds — basically any situation where you’re moving water and need protection in case of dry run or voltage issues. It’s a great way to protect your investment and avoid expensive pump replacements.

If you have questions, feel free to email me — you’ll find the contact info below. I’ll do my best to help you out.
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Thanks for watching — and I’ll see you on the next one!

For more helpful homestead planning tips, visit Carolina Homestead Planner.