Electricity, Submersible Water Pump, 4.3 Amps

[Noble Metal]

Hi Friends, a high quality submersible water pump from Italy, it is 220 volt, 1,100SA, 4.3 amps, and it is grounded into the Earth while in use; and we also have an emergency electrical cut-off that cuts the power in case of an electrical short; but the question is, in a new high quality pump like this, how safe and how insane is it that I work in the water while the pump is running (No way to do the work unless the pump is running; and yes it is also again, grounded into the earth.) And again I’m so ignorant on this subject that I think as an example of ‘a submarine’, many many volts and amps, radio antennas and everything, under water in salt water; and so why is it in my little brain, Italy, USA, or Germany etc, cannot design and make a pump where when healthy and new is specifically designed that electronic leak, jump, or spark, is just basically impossible? – All honest true comments hoped for and needed; how safe am I to be in the water in work in this with rubberised tools; how likely is a shock likely, and if so, what are my chances wet, in this case with a one second shock at 4.3 amps?

 

[KingNothing]

I would be more worried about mechanical safety than electrical safety. You are actually safer submerged in the water than when outside of the water and still wet - the current will spread through all paths through the water, and go around you to some extent in case of the water shorting some electrical components.

What exactly are you doing there? Are you submerged in the water yourself? It's hard to say whether it's safe or not, but it is possible to design such an apparatus to be safe. Does the pump have any labeling saying what you should and should not do around it?

 

[Noble Metal]

Digging a well, yes I'm standing in water, all is wet, and electricity is tricky stuff, including the difference of say both hands on a metal tool at the same time of a shock and the currant from the hands and arms passing through the heart; and which I won't do... No, nothing on the label, the company because of possible lawsuit of course would never say such a thing; its just crazy to me in a world of submarines that an electrical pump can't be designed and wired that the thought is never even thought of?...

 

[Proton Soup]

the pump should have electrical components sealed in an insulator like epoxy, but there is always a risk. you're taking a chance. at the very least, i would make sure the power is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupted. this is a device that measures current entering and leaving the circuit, and if some current appears to be lost, switches the device off. you also need to not work alone and if at all possible switch the power to the pump off, though I'm guessing that might be a drowning hazzard?

 

[Chi Meson]

the pump should have electrical components sealed in an insulator like epoxy, but there is always a risk. you're taking a chance. at the very least, i would make sure the power is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupted. this is a device that measures current entering and leaving the circuit, and if some current appears to be lost, switches the device off. you also need to not work alone and if at all possible switch the power to the pump off, though I'm guessing that might be a drowning hazzard?

^^Good advise. The GFCI is probably in place already. Outdoor outlets are usually required by building code to be fed off a GFCI. These things are those outlets you often see in bathrooms, with a "test" and "reset" button. Even if the outlet you plug into is not itself a GFCI, it may be connected through a GFCI at another location. With this protection in place, I would not be worried.