Typical 1 HP submersible well pumps draw about 10 amps at 240V. Larger 1.5-2 HP pumps may need a 30A circuit.
| Recommended wire | 12/2 with ground (UF-B for direct burial) |
| Breaker | 20A double-pole |
| Voltage | 240V |
| Typical amperage | 10A |
| Circuit amperage | 20A |
| NEC reference | NEC 430 |
| Max recommended distance | About 180 feet one-way for 3% drop at 10A |
Wire must be rated for direct burial (UF-B) or run in conduit underground. For deep wells with long wire runs, consider upsizing to reduce voltage drop.
Most 1 HP submersible well pumps draw about 10A at 240V and use 12 AWG copper wire on a 20A double-pole breaker. Larger 1.5 HP pumps (13–14A) may need 10 AWG copper on a 30A breaker. Check the pump nameplate for exact amperage.
Yes — well pumps must have a dedicated circuit. Sharing with other loads can trip the breaker during pump startup (which draws 3–6× running current). A dedicated circuit also allows the use of a pressure switch and control box on a clean circuit.
Submersible pump wire (also called "pump cable") is a specialized wet-rated wire designed for burial in water. It comes in flat or round configurations with 3 or 4 conductors. Common sizes are 14 AWG (for small pumps) and 12 AWG (for 1 HP pumps).
For a typical 1 HP pump at 10A drawing 240V, a 100-foot depth run (200 feet round trip) in 12 AWG copper has about 2% voltage drop — within the 3% NEC recommendation. For deeper wells (200+ feet), upsize to 10 AWG copper to keep voltage drop under 3%.