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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Only 3-wire submersible pumps use a control box. Match three things from the motor nameplate: the maker, the horsepower and the voltage. For a 1 HP, 230 V Red Lion 3-wire pump, the Red Lion RLCB10-230. Red Lion also sells boxes for 1/2 HP (230 V and 115 V), 3/4 HP and 1-1/2 HP. Its 1-1/2 HP and RS series pumps ship without a box, so order one with the pump.
Top pick: the Red Lion RLCB10-230 for 1 HP, 230 V 3-wire pumps. Check the Red Lion RLCB10-230 on Amazon
A well pump control box sits on the wall above ground and starts a 3-wire submersible pump. If yours has failed, or you are buying a pump that ships without one, the right box is decided by three things on the motor nameplate: the maker, the horsepower and the voltage. This page shows how to match them, using Red Lion’s control boxes, the ones sold by Amazon.com on October 4, 2026. To choose the pump itself, start with our well pump guide or our submersible well pump picks.
Do You Need a Control Box?
Only for a single-phase 3-wire submersible. Red Lion’s training manual explains it: every motor needs a starting mechanism. In a 2-wire pump that part sits inside the motor, so there is no box. A 3-wire pump uses an extra wire and a separate control box that holds the starting parts. Franklin Electric says the box holds the starting capacitors and a starting relay, and in some sizes overload protectors, running capacitors and contactors.
To tell which you have, count the wires coming up from the well and leave out the green ground. Red Lion says a 2-wire pump really has three wires and a 3-wire pump has four, because the ground is not counted. Red Lion’s model names say it too: the 3W in RL12G10-3W2V means 3-wire, and the 2V means 230 volts.
Match Three Things: Maker, Horsepower, Voltage
Maker. Franklin Electric says the control box and motor are two pieces of one assembly, that a motor is designed to run with a control box from the same maker, and that it warrants its motors only with a Franklin box. Its installation record asks the installer to verify that the box and motor come from the same manufacturer. The Red Lion boxes on this page are listed by Red Lion alongside its own RL and RS series pumps. Red Lion’s RL manual carries a Franklin Electric copyright and labels the box in its wiring drawing a Franklin control box, so for a Red Lion pump, use the Red Lion box listed for that pump. If your pump is another brand, such as Goulds, buy the box its motor maker specifies; none of the Franklin or Goulds boxes we found were sold by Amazon.com on October 4, 2026.
Horsepower and voltage. Franklin says to verify that the box’s horsepower rating and voltage match the motor rating exactly, and that a mismatch should be expected to cause premature failure of the box or the motor. Red Lion says to make sure the supply voltage and current correspond with the ratings of the motor and the control box. Franklin also says that running a 3-wire motor without a box, or with the wrong one, can cause motor failure and voids its warranty.
Control Box Sizing Chart
| Motor on the nameplate | Red Lion box | Red Lion pumps that include it | Red Lion pumps that need it bought separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 HP, 230 V, 3-wire | RLCB05-230 | RL12G05-3W2V | RS5G05-3W2V, RS12G05-3W2V |
| 1/2 HP, 115 V, 3-wire | RLCB05-115 | None in the current RL and RS spec sheets | None listed; buy it only if the motor nameplate says 1/2 HP, 115 V, 3-wire and the motor maker specifies this box |
| 3/4 HP, 230 V, 3-wire | RLCB07-230 | RL12G07-3W2V | RS5G07-3W2V, RS12G07-3W2V, RS22G07-3W2V |
| 1 HP, 230 V, 3-wire | RLCB10-230 | RL12G10-3W2V, RL22G10-3W2V | RS12G10-3W2V, RS22G10-3W2V |
| 1-1/2 HP, 230 V, 3-wire | RLCB15-230 | None | RL12G15-3W2V, RS12G15-3W2V, RS22G15-3W2V |
| Any 2-wire pump | No control box | Not needed | Not needed |
Box sizes from Red Lion’s RL and RS series spec sheets and catalog; which pumps include a box from Red Lion’s RL manual, which marks the 1/2, 3/4 and 1 HP RL 3-wire models as including one, and its RS spec sheet, which says the RS series does not. Each linked box was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on October 4, 2026.
Red Lion RLCB10-230 Control Box (1 HP, 230 V)
Item 640191 · 1 HP · 230 V · single-phase, 3-wire · 9.0 x 5.5 x 3.5 in. · 3 lb · NEMA 3 enclosure, UL listed (listing) · 2-year Gold warranty, per Red Lion
This is the box for a 1 HP, 230-volt, 3-wire Red Lion submersible. Red Lion includes it with the RL12G10-3W2V and RL22G10-3W2V pumps. You buy it on its own when that box fails, or when you put in a 1 HP RS series pump, because Red Lion says the RS series ships without a control box (the RS12G10-3W2V and RS22G10-3W2V are the 1 HP models).
Red Lion lists it at 9 by 5-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches and 3 pounds. Its Amazon listing describes a capacitor start, capacitor run design with thermal protection, rated for continuous duty, in a NEMA 3 enclosure for indoor or outdoor use, with four 7/8-inch and three 1-1/8-inch knockouts. Red Lion’s RL pump manual says to mount control boxes in an area protected from rain, snow, high temperatures and temperatures below 14 °F, so follow the manual, not the listing, when you choose the spot. Before you buy, read the motor nameplate: Franklin Electric says the box’s horsepower and voltage must match the motor exactly.
- Matches Red Lion’s 1 HP, 230 V 3-wire pumps
- Needed with any 1 HP RS series pump, which ships without a box
- Small and light: 3 pounds, per Red Lion
- Listing rates the NEMA 3 enclosure for indoor/outdoor use; the Red Lion manual says to mount it protected from rain and snow
- 1 HP, 230 V only; the wrong size can fail the motor, per Franklin
- Built for Red Lion pumps; other motor makers want their own box
- Not needed at all on a 2-wire pump
Verdict: The control box to buy for a 1 HP, 230 V, 3-wire Red Lion pump.
Red Lion RLCB05-230 and RLCB05-115 Control Boxes (1/2 HP)
RLCB05-230: item 640189, 1/2 HP, 230 V, 8.75 x 5.35 x 3.25 in., 3 lb · RLCB05-115: item 640188, 1/2 HP, 115 V, 8.75 x 5.25 x 3.25 in., 3 lb · single-phase, 3-wire · 2-year Gold warranty, per Red Lion
These are the two 1/2 HP boxes, and the only difference is voltage. The 230-volt RLCB05-230 matches Red Lion’s RL12G05-3W2V, which comes with its box, and the RS5G05-3W2V and RS12G05-3W2V, which do not. Red Lion still lists the 115-volt RLCB05-115, but none of the 3-wire RL or RS pumps in the spec sheets we read run on 115 volts, so check that your motor’s nameplate really says 115 V before you order it.
Voltage is not a detail here. Red Lion’s manual says the supply voltage and current must correspond with the ratings of the motor and the control box, and Franklin says a motor run with the wrong box can fail. Read the motor nameplate, or the label on the old box, and buy the matching voltage.
- Covers 1/2 HP at both 115 V and 230 V
- Matches the RL12G05-3W2V and the 1/2 HP RS pumps
- Same small 3-pound box as the 1 HP
- Both carry the 2-year Gold warranty, per Red Lion’s RL series page
- Easy to order the wrong voltage; check the nameplate
- No current Red Lion 3-wire pump runs on 115 V, per the spec sheets we read
- Not for 2-wire pumps
Verdict: Buy the RLCB05-230 for a 1/2 HP, 230 V Red Lion 3-wire pump, and the RLCB05-115 only if the motor says 115 V and its maker specifies this box.
Red Lion RLCB07-230 Control Box (3/4 HP, 230 V)
Item 640190 · 3/4 HP · 230 V · single-phase, 3-wire · 9.0 x 5.25 x 3.0 in. · 3 lb · 2-year Gold warranty, per Red Lion
The 3/4 HP box matches the RL12G07-3W2V, which includes one, and the RS5G07-3W2V, RS12G07-3W2V and RS22G07-3W2V, which do not. Red Lion lists it at 9 by 5-1/4 by 3 inches and 3 pounds, about the same size as the 1/2 and 1 HP boxes.
A 1 HP box on a 3/4 HP motor is still the wrong box. Franklin says the box’s horsepower must match the motor exactly, so buy the size printed on the motor nameplate, not the next size up.
- Matches Red Lion’s 3/4 HP 3-wire pumps
- Needed with the three 3/4 HP RS pumps, which ship without a box
- Same compact size as the other small boxes
- 2-year Gold warranty on the box, per Red Lion’s RL series page
- 230 V only
- Do not swap in a 1/2 or 1 HP box, per Franklin’s rule
- Not for 2-wire pumps
Verdict: The box for a 3/4 HP, 230 V, 3-wire Red Lion pump, and nothing else.
Red Lion RLCB15-230 Control Box (1-1/2 HP, 230 V)
Item 640222 · 1-1/2 HP · 230 V · single-phase, 3-wire · 11.5 x 8.25 x 6.25 in. · 6 lb · 2-year Gold warranty, per Red Lion
Every Red Lion 1-1/2 HP submersible needs this box bought separately. Red Lion includes a box only with its 1/2, 3/4 and 1 HP RL 3-wire pumps, so the RL12G15-3W2V ships without one, and so do the RS12G15-3W2V and RS22G15-3W2V. If you are ordering a 1-1/2 HP pump, order this box with it.
It is a bigger box: Red Lion lists it at 11-1/2 by 8-1/4 by 6-1/4 inches and 6 pounds, so measure the wall space before you plan the install. Its Amazon listing gives it knockouts for 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1-1/4 inch conduit and three mounting holes.
- The only Red Lion box for its 1-1/2 HP pumps
- Required with the RL12G15-3W2V, which ships without a box
- Knockouts for four conduit sizes, per the listing
- 2-year Gold warranty on the box, per Red Lion’s RL series page
- Largest box here; needs more wall space
- 230 V only
- Easy to forget, since smaller RL pumps include their box
Verdict: Order it with any 1-1/2 HP Red Lion 3-wire pump; it does not come in the pump box.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Where to Mount It
Red Lion says to mount the box where it is protected from rain, snow, high temperatures and temperatures below 14 °F. Franklin gives a range of 14 °F to 122 °F for its boxes and says operating one below 14 °F can reduce starting torque. It also says never to mount a box in direct sunlight or a hot spot, which shortens capacitor life and trips the overloads, and not to install one in a damp well pit or other humid place, which corrodes the parts. Boxes with voltage relays go in a vertical, upright position only, per Franklin. Always connect the box’s grounding terminal to the supply ground, per Franklin and the electrical code.
Signs the Control Box Is the Problem
Red Lion’s troubleshooting guide for its submersibles lists these causes when fuses blow or the overload protector trips as the motor starts:
- A starting or running capacitor in the box that is defective or vented (blown out).
- A broken wire in the box.
- Motor leads connected wrong in the box, the pressure switch or the disconnect; check the wiring diagram on the box against the color code on the drop cable.
- Wire that is too small, or a wrong connection in the box.
- Voltage more than 5% above or below the motor nameplate rating while it runs.
Franklin adds that direct sun or another heat source can make the box hot enough to trip its protectors; it says the box must not be hot to the touch. Its electrical checks read the current on each motor lead: the red lead should spike for a moment at start, then drop within a second. If it stays high, Franklin points to a failed relay or switch. Those are live-voltage tests. Red Lion says to have a certified electrician check the capacitors, and warns that they can still carry a charge after they are disconnected.
Before you blame the box, rule out the rest of the system. Red Lion lists a waterlogged pressure tank, a leak and a bad switch setting as causes of a pump that starts too often; see our pressure switch guide and pressure tank picks.
Replacing the Box With a Constant Pressure Controller
Franklin says its MonoDrive converts a conventional 1/2 to 2 HP system to constant pressure by replacing the 3-wire control box and the pressure switch. That is a different purchase from a like-for-like box; our constant pressure guide covers it.
Before You Buy
- Confirm it is a 3-wire pump. Three wires plus a green ground, per Red Lion.
- Read the motor nameplate. Maker, horsepower and voltage. Franklin wants all three to match.
- Check the old box’s label. Plumber’s note: if the motor nameplate is down the well and nobody kept the pump label, the old box’s label shows the horsepower and voltage it was built for. Red Lion says to keep the motor and pump labels in the breaker box for future reference.
- Buy the box with the pump if it is a 1-1/2 HP RL or any RS series pump; Red Lion does not include one.
- Plan the wiring. Red Lion says to employ a licensed electrician or water systems contractor and to install the box per its manual and the electrical code.
When to Call a Pro
A control box is wired between the power supply and a motor down the well, and its capacitors can hold a charge with the power off. Red Lion says to employ a licensed electrician or water systems contractor for the electrical connections and to have a certified electrician check capacitors. Plumber’s note: a like-for-like box swap is quick for a qualified electrician; if the box is fine and the motor is the problem, the pump has to come out of the well, which is a well contractor’s job.
FAQ
Do I need a control box for my well pump?
Only if it is a single-phase 3-wire submersible. Red Lion says a 2-wire pump has its starting parts inside the motor and does not use a control box, while a 3-wire pump needs a separate box above ground. Franklin Electric says single-phase 3-wire motors require one.
How do I tell a 2-wire pump from a 3-wire pump?
Count the wires and leave out the green ground. Red Lion says a 2-wire pump actually has three wires and a 3-wire pump has four, because the ground is not counted. The motor nameplate also says, and Red Lion’s model names include it: RL12G10-3W2V is a 3-wire, 230 V pump.
Can I use a different brand of control box?
Match the box to the motor maker. Franklin Electric says the control box and motor are two pieces of one assembly, that its motors are built to run with a control box from the same maker, and that it warrants them only with a Franklin box. Read the maker on the motor nameplate before you order.
What size control box do I need?
The same horsepower and voltage as the motor. Franklin says to verify that the control box horsepower rating and voltage match the motor rating exactly, and that a premature failure of the box or motor should be expected if they do not.
How do I know if my well pump control box is bad?
Red Lion’s troubleshooting lists defective or blown starting and running capacitors, a broken wire in the box and miswired leads among the causes of a 3-wire pump that will not run right. Franklin adds that heat from direct sun can trip the box’s protectors. Have an electrician test it: Red Lion warns that capacitors can still hold a charge after the power is off.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents linked below, or from the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On October 4, 2026, every linked listing was in stock and sold by Amazon.com. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Red Lion: RL series 4-inch submersible well pumps and control boxes, RL series spec sheet, RL owner’s manual
- Red Lion: RS series 4-inch submersible well pumps, RS series spec sheet
- Red Lion: product catalog 996508 (control box table, submersible troubleshooting guide)
- Red Lion: Pump Specialist Training Manual 995634
- Franklin Electric: submersible motors Application, Installation, Maintenance (AIM) manual
- Franklin Electric: SubDrive and MonoDrive constant pressure controllers brochure (M1459)
- Amazon listings for the Red Lion RLCB05-115, RLCB05-230, RLCB07-230, RLCB10-230 and RLCB15-230 control boxes (linked above)
Bottom Line
Buy the control box that matches your motor’s maker, horsepower and voltage, exactly. For Red Lion 3-wire pumps that means the RLCB05-230 or RLCB05-115 for 1/2 HP, the RLCB07-230 for 3/4 HP, the RLCB10-230 for 1 HP and the RLCB15-230 for 1-1/2 HP. A 2-wire pump needs no box. Have a licensed electrician wire it, and check the tank and switch before you blame the box.