Grundfos · 3 in Submersible Well Pump
5 SQE
Nominal 5 GPM 3 in constant-pressure submersible well pump with a permanent-magnet motor and built-in protection: 9 models from 1/2 to 1-1/2 HP, 86-450 ft of head at 5 GPM, 1 in NPT discharge. Runs on a CU 302 for constant pressure.
5 GPM Rated Flow
1/2 to 1-1/2 HP
86-450 ft at 5 GPM
1.5-8 GPM Flow Range
Constant Pressure with CU 302
3 in Min. Well
1 in NPT Discharge
115V or 230V 1Ph
Dry-Run, Voltage and Overload Protection
2.9 in Dia x 29.1-38.0 in L
11-16 lb Ship Weight
Overview
The Grundfos 5 SQE is a 3 in stainless steel well pump with a variable-speed permanent-magnet "Smart Motor". Paired with a Grundfos CU 302 Constant Pressure Control, it holds the pressure you set, from a trickle at one tap to full flow, instead of cycling between a pressure switch's cut-in and cut-out. The CU 302 talks to the pump over the power leads, so no extra wires go down the well, and it pairs with the Grundfos GO and HOME apps by Bluetooth.
It is rated at 5 GPM, with 9 models from 1/2 to 1-1/2 HP for deeper settings. The pump fits a 3 in or larger well and suits household supply, light commercial service, irrigation and tank filling or emptying.
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Constant pressure. The CU 302 changes pump speed, 3,000 to 10,700 rpm, to hold its setpoint (factory 50 PSI, adjustable 20 to 100 PSI in 5 PSI steps). It works with a 2 gal diaphragm tank instead of a large pressure tank.
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Built-in protection. Dry-run, over- and undervoltage (cuts out below 150 V and above 315 V and restarts by itself), overload, locked-rotor and over-temperature protection are built into the motor. No protection relay or motor starter needed.
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Soft start, no start limit. The motor ramps up in about 3 seconds and has no limit on starts or stops per hour.
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Sand-tolerant hydraulics. Floating impellers each run on their own tungsten carbide / ceramic bearing; a top bearing protects pump and motor against upthrust at start-up.
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Install it any way up. Vertical, horizontal or anywhere between, with a built-in spring check valve; use a flow sleeve when horizontal.
What Ships and What It Needs to Run
Included: the pump and its 3 in SQE motor, assembled, with a built-in check valve, plus a 5 ft, 14 AWG motor cable with plug that you press onto the motor socket and secure with four screws. The controller is not in the box.
For constant pressure: CU 302 and a pressure sensor, ordered separately. Use the Grundfos CU 302 Constant Pressure Control, sold with or without its 0-120 PSI pressure sensor, plus a 2 gal diaphragm tank. Variable speed needs the CU 302.
Without a controller: Grundfos states the motor can be connected directly to the main breaker and started by a pressure switch rated for the pump's current; it then runs at full speed, like an SQ, with no constant pressure.
Never connect: a capacitor, a conventional control box or an external frequency drive.
Drop cable and splice kit: sized to your setting depth (cable table under Models & Performance) and ordered separately. A replacement motor cable is on our Grundfos SQ and SQE Pump Accessories listing; you do not need one for a new pump.
Genuine Grundfos equipment, factory-new in original packaging — sold and supported by Watermain Supply, an independent industrial supplier.
Warranty
24 months from date of installation, but not more than 30 months from date of manufacture. In Grundfos's words, products are “warranted to the original user only to be free of defects in material and workmanship”; the full terms are in the installation and operating instructions on the Data Sheet tab.
Specifications
| Specification |
Value |
| Rated flow |
5 GPM nominal; working range 1.5-8 GPM |
| Horsepower |
1/2 to 1-1/2 HP |
| Supply |
1 x 100-115 V (1/2 HP only) or 1 x 200-240 V, 60 Hz; 2-wire plus ground |
| Motor |
MSE 3 permanent-magnet motor with built-in electronics, 3,000 to 10,700 rpm |
| Control |
CU 302 over the power leads (GENIbus); Bluetooth to Grundfos GO and the Grundfos HOME app |
| Protection |
Dry run, overvoltage and undervoltage (cuts out below 150 V and above 315 V), overload, locked rotor, over-temperature |
| Starting |
Soft start, run-up maximum 3 seconds; no limit on starts or stops per hour |
| Motor cable |
3-wire, 14 AWG XLPE, 5 ft, with plug |
| Discharge |
1 in NPT |
| Well diameter |
3 in minimum |
| Setting depth |
Up to 500 ft below the static water level; at least 20 in below the pumping water level |
| Pumped liquid |
Clean water, pH 5 to 9, up to 86°F |
| Generator |
Output at least the motor input power (P1) plus 50% recommended, never less than P1 plus 10% |
Source: Grundfos SQ, SQE, SmartFlo and SP data booklet (North America, 60 Hz), technical data.
Models & Performance — Will It Do What You Need?
Pick a model whose head at your flow covers the pumping water level, the pressure you need at the surface (2.31 ft per PSI) and pipe friction. Then check the set-pressure table for what it delivers at your depth.
| Model |
HP |
0 GPM (Shut-off) |
1.5 GPM |
3.7 GPM |
5 GPM (Rated) |
7.4 GPM (Max) |
| 5 SQE05-90 |
1/2 |
153 |
147 |
121 |
86 |
46 |
| 5 SQE05-140 |
1/2 |
230 |
222 |
185 |
131 |
77 |
| 5 SQE05-180 |
1/2 |
309 |
298 |
249 |
177 |
108 |
| 5 SQE07-230 |
3/4 |
387 |
374 |
314 |
222 |
138 |
| 5 SQE07-270 |
3/4 |
465 |
450 |
379 |
270 |
169 |
| 5 SQE07-320 |
3/4 |
543 |
526 |
443 |
315 |
200 |
| 5 SQE10-360 |
1 |
621 |
601 |
508 |
360 |
230 |
| 5 SQE10-410 |
1 |
700 |
678 |
572 |
405 |
260 |
| 5 SQE15-450 |
1-1/2 |
777 |
753 |
636 |
450 |
291 |
Total head in feet. The shut-off and flow columns are read from the Grundfos 60 Hz curves for the 5 SQ, SQE (SQ and SQE share one curve, the SQE at its 10,700 rpm top speed), digitized from the published curve charts in the Grundfos SQ, SQE, SmartFlo and SP data booklet, at the nearest published point and rounded down. The (Rated) column is the head Grundfos prints at 5 GPM in its system sizing matrix, verbatim; the number in the model name is a nominal figure and reads lower on some models. On the 5 SQ, the published curve reads above the sizing-matrix head at 5 GPM (about 51 ft on the median model); both are shown as published, and we check your duty point against the curve before you order. 1 ft of head = 0.433 PSI. Full curves are in the product images and on the Data Sheet tab.
What It Delivers at Your Set Pressure
Output at 50 and 60 PSI · 1/2 to 3/4 HP · 6 models · depths 20 to 400 ft
GPM at 50 PSI (CU 302 factory setpoint), by depth to water
| Model |
20 ft |
80 ft |
120 ft |
180 ft |
240 ft |
280 ft |
400 ft |
| 5 SQE05-90 |
2.8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE05-140 |
5.7 |
3.3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE05-180 |
6.8 |
5.4 |
4.3 |
1.7 |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE07-230* |
— |
6 |
5.5 |
4 |
2 |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE07-270 |
— |
7 |
6.4 |
5.4 |
4.3 |
3.4 |
— |
| 5 SQE07-320 |
— |
7.5 |
7 |
6.2 |
5.4 |
4.7 |
2 |
GPM at 60 PSI (setpoint), by depth to water
| Model |
20 ft |
80 ft |
120 ft |
180 ft |
240 ft |
280 ft |
400 ft |
| 5 SQE05-90 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE05-140 |
4.9 |
1.8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE05-180 |
6.4 |
4.8 |
3.5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE07-230* |
7 |
5.5 |
5 |
3.5 |
1 |
— |
— |
| 5 SQE07-270 |
— |
6.6 |
6 |
5 |
3.8 |
2.7 |
— |
| 5 SQE07-320 |
— |
7.2 |
6.7 |
5.9 |
5 |
4.3 |
0.9 |
Output at 50 and 60 PSI · 1 to 1-1/2 HP · 3 models · depths 100 to 600 ft
GPM at 50 PSI (CU 302 factory setpoint), by depth to water
| Model |
100 ft |
140 ft |
200 ft |
260 ft |
300 ft |
400 ft |
600 ft |
| 5 SQE10-360 |
— |
7.1 |
6.5 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
3.7 |
— |
| 5 SQE10-410 |
— |
7.5 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
5.9 |
4.7 |
— |
| 5 SQE15-450 |
— |
— |
7.2 |
6.7 |
6.3 |
5.3 |
2.5 |
GPM at 60 PSI (setpoint), by depth to water
| Model |
100 ft |
140 ft |
200 ft |
260 ft |
300 ft |
400 ft |
600 ft |
| 5 SQE10-360 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
5.5 |
5 |
3.2 |
— |
| 5 SQE10-410 |
— |
7.3 |
6.7 |
6 |
5.6 |
4.4 |
— |
| 5 SQE15-450 |
— |
— |
7 |
6.5 |
6.1 |
5 |
1.9 |
From the Grundfos 3 in SQ sizing charts (pp. 36-37), verbatim: gallons per minute at the pressure shown and the depth to pumping water level. The SQE runs on the same curve as the SQ at full speed, so each cell is the most the SQE delivers while the CU 302 holds that pressure. Riser and pipe friction are not included. A dash means Grundfos prints no figure: on the shallow side the flow is past the chart range, on the deep side the pump cannot hold that pressure. * 5 SQE07-230: Grundfos's printed chart for this model repeats the 5 SQ07-270 figures and disagrees with the model's own published curve by about 48 ft of head on average, so its row is calculated from the curve instead. Calculated rows are the flow where the published curve meets the depth plus 116 ft or 139 ft, interpolated between published points and rounded down to 0.5 GPM.
Drop Cable Size
Drop cable size by distance · copper, 60 Hz
| Volts |
HP |
Amps |
14 AWG |
12 AWG |
10 AWG |
8 AWG |
6 AWG |
4 AWG |
2 AWG |
| 115 |
1/2 |
12 |
140 |
220 |
360 |
550 |
880 |
1390 |
2260 |
| 230 |
1/2 |
5.2 |
640 |
1000 |
1660 |
2250 |
4060 |
— |
— |
| 230 |
3/4 |
8.4 |
400 |
620 |
1030 |
1580 |
2510 |
3970 |
— |
| 230 |
1 |
11.2 |
300 |
460 |
770 |
1190 |
1890 |
2980 |
4850 |
| 230 |
1-1/2 |
12 |
280 |
430 |
720 |
1110 |
1760 |
2780 |
4530 |
Maximum length in feet from the motor to the service entrance, copper wire, 9% voltage drop, from the Grundfos SQ, SQE installation and operating instructions and data booklet. A dash means not listed.
Before You Buy — The Limits That Decide the Fit
| Check |
What to confirm |
| Well size |
3 in or larger casing |
| Water |
Clean water, pH 5 to 9, up to 86°F |
| Setting |
No deeper than 500 ft below the static water level, and at least 20 in below the pumping water level |
| Power |
1/2 HP models come in 115 V or 230 V versions (different part numbers, not field-convertible); 3/4 HP and up are 230 V only |
| Wiring |
CU 302 for constant pressure; or a pressure switch rated for the pump's current. Never a capacitor, control box or external drive |
| Horizontal install |
Use the SQ/SQE flow sleeve (on our Grundfos SQ and SQE Pump Accessories listing) to keep water moving past the motor |
| Generator |
At least the motor input power plus 50% (minimum plus 10%) |
Materials of Construction
| Part |
Material |
| Pump sleeve, outlet chamber, cable guard |
AISI 304 stainless steel |
| Impellers, chambers, guide vanes, valve casing |
Polyamide (30% glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Impeller bearings |
Tungsten carbide / ceramic |
| Shaft |
AISI 304 stainless steel |
| Valve seat, seals |
NBR rubber |
| Motor stator, rotor, top cover |
AISI 304 stainless steel |
| Motor bearings |
Silicon carbide / tungsten carbide (coated); carbon thrust bearing |
Source: Grundfos SQ, SQE, SmartFlo and SP data booklet, construction.
