Submersable pumps pull a lot of current on start up. Up to 7 times running momentarily. This is especially true of three wire pumps. ( Ground and 2 , 110V) 4 wire pumps have a capacitor start provision ( the extra wire) and a control box that greatly reduces the starting load by
shifing the phase on
startup.
4200 watts should handle it how ever if you have no line losses. Excess Line losses will do exactly what has happened to you. Overheated the connections and burned up the pump.
First check what
gauge wire you have going from the generator to the pump and the length of the run. Check a wire
gauge calculator such as
http://www.denningelectronics.com/wiregauge.htm
use at least 4 times the running load for your wats and if it is a deep well pump, more than 50 feet of head from water to spickot) then use 7 times
wattage. Use 5% line loss allowable,. This will probably uncover your problem as under size wire.
The other
possibility is that the breaker was going bad over time and caused the voltage drop0 that destroyed the pump.
Last item you can do, check the voltage at the generator when the pump starts, it
shold not drop more than 10% on start up.
Good luck
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