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Electric feedback from water circulation pump

I have an electrical hum coming from my speakers (95 db sensitivity) whenever my whole house well water circulation pump turns on (which occurs anytime a faucet or shower is turned on).  I have a dedicated 20 amp line to my listening room and this line is at lest 7 feet away from the pump.  I believe the noise is coming from energy back fed from the pump into the breaker box.

I contacted my well company and they indicated this is a problem that usually affects TV images (mine are fine) and recommended I install a capacitor at the breaker box which will absorb the back feed of energy coming from the pump.  I did this and there was no improvement.

I just had a Powerworx clean energy/surge protector added to each of our three electrical panels due to a recent lightening strike of my house (an ounce of prevention... I know).  It was also purported to likely help the above issue.  It did not.

My next move is to either invest in a power regenerator or power conditioner for in my room.  If that does not help then my final move might be to install a pressurized holding tank so that the pump does not run as often.  I am unsure of the cost or feasibility of this and therefore reserve it as a final option.

Any recommendations regarding power conditioning in this specific situation are welcomed.  Thanks!

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jea48
4,495 posts
 
Here is an example of a VFD noise filter
https://www.amazon.com/Filter-Suppressor-Variable-Frequency-Drives/dp/B08BZ6BGN7
Only an example.....
Again, the Web Link is meant as an example only and not for use with your VFD drive controller. The one shown on Amazon is a 3 phase unit. Your power no doubt is single phase. 

Also looking at the features for the Franklin Electric SubDrive it says it has filtering.  
Advanced Filtering to Remove Radio Frequency Interference
https://www.rcworst.com/franklin-electric-5870205313c-subdrive20-connect-submersible-motor-constant-...

  
Your noise problem may be the VFD controller was not properly installed and wired following best practices for a VFD. Proper grounding is a must.  
Example:   
https://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@electrical/documents/content/ap040076en.pdf  

.


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mganga OP
32 posts
 
Unfortunately this issue has not been resolved.   I put a large capacitor into the pump controller to absorb back feed which helped only a little.  I then bought a Shunyata power conditioner which has helped though not completely.   So I try to listen when others aren’t home or awake or just put up with it.  Turning up the volume helps but that of course doesn’t replace the loss of low level detail.  I’ll have to look into the VFD controller as recommended.   I was next thinking of getting a PS Audio Powerplant to give regeneration a try.  
jea48
4,495 posts
 
@mganga

Just using a capacitor will not solve your problem. And going bigger may cause problems on other AC mains powered devices in your home. Too much capacitance can cause a leading PF (Power Factor)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor#Lagging_and_leading_power_factors

Here is a video I found doing a simple Google search. The guy does a pretty good job of showing, explaining in layman terms, the before and after results of installing a line filter ahead of the VFD and ferrites on the load side that feeds the motor. I doubt he is an EE but he definitely has a basic electrical understanding of what he is doing. He tells you from the start his limitations. Note he didn’t say he sized the ac Line filter per the manufacturer of the filter as well as NEC for the FLA of the VFD / motor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJfiOqaeFDg

Just a suggestion. You need to find a good Commercial/Industrial electrical contractor that installs VFDs and trouble shoots VFD noise problems.
Who ever told you to just install a capacitor on the AC mains is not qualified, jmho..... The contractor’s electrician will use the correct sized ac Line filter for the FLA of the VFD/well pump motor per the manufacturer of the Line Filter as well as NEC.

Just curious where is the VFD controller located? In an outdoor pump house near the well pump?
turnbowm
353 posts
 
I think that your noise problems are caused by the controller. It's pumping (sorry, couldn;t resist) noise into the AC supply. The solution is to install a good noise filter at the controller site. Contact the controller manufacturer and get their recommendations. 
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