Lots of rain lately has got me thinking about my sump pump. Saw a battery-backup version at the store and started surfing for more info. Seems there's two versions. 1.) DC pump and 2.) AC pump with power inverter. All feature auto-on circuitry and trickle chargers.

The power inverter appears to be a reasonable choice since it allows other household plug-ins (like a light!) if necessary. Plus it's portable. If you drain your deep cycle, you could get power from your car's battery.

What set-ups do you guys run? Any links to DIY power inverter designs? Thanks.

None of the back-up pumps have great capacity as far as GPH goes.
I like the water powered Home Guard back up myself.
No battery or electricity needed.
http://www.zoeller.com/zcopump/products/backupsystems/homeguard.htm

Lots of rain lately has got me thinking about my sump pump. Saw a battery-backup version at the store and started surfing for more info. Seems there's two versions. 1.) DC pump and 2.) AC pump with power inverter. All feature auto-on circuitry and trickle chargers.

The power inverter appears to be a reasonable choice since it allows other household plug-ins (like a light!) if necessary. Plus it's portable. If you drain your deep cycle, you could get power from your car's battery.

What set-ups do you guys run? Any links to DIY power inverter designs? Thanks.

If you go with the AC pump and your power goes out, that pump is useless. However, if you use a DC pump, it's powered by a Marine battery that must be charged anyway.



Respectfully,
John R.

If you go with the AC pump and your power goes out, that pump is useless.
The power inverter solves that problem.

Dean, do you know how much one of those costs with installation?

Thanks,

-Joe

Malibru how are you guys up there? 8.25" here! 110" of snow this winter now this ****! I wish it was snow!

I've been retired for 5 years but as I recall they were about $300.00 installed back then.

The problem with battery back-ups is the battery might not last as long as the power outage even if it's good to start with PLUS I've seen too many that were neglected and when they were needed, the battery was dead.

Water powered back-ups will go forever and all you need to do is unplug the primary pump once in a while and let the back-up take over to make sure they are in working order.

JC70SS Not as bad as the Wisconsin Dells!! Can you imagine Lake Delton being drained? The soil in the area is all sand as you can see from the videos. Their entire economy up there is dependent on lake activities. That's going to backhand their economy all Summer.

What is a sump pump??

What is a sump pump??

http://www.zoeller.com/zcopump/Products/zcoproducts.htm

That'd work great as long as you have city water-no luck with a well.

Guys, make SURE if you install a sump pump, that it's permanently mounted (hard plumbed, no flex hoses). Ins. co denied a friend's water damage claim because his pump wasn't a permanent mounted system. At least, check your local regs.

If you are worried about power, you should probably be more worried about the one pump crapping out... might want to consider duplexed pumps...and a small portable generator...

ak

I have had a Sears battery Backup sump Pump for 15 years. I change the battery every 3 years or so. The motor is DC, and has a monitor/trickle charger/alarm that is AC. The alarm goes off if the backup runs for more than 10 seconds or power goes out. The alarm is resettable only if the backup is not running (only pet peeve). I have to put a bucket over the alarm if I have to let it run.

I plummed it with 1-1/2 PVC and a check valve for probably $20, so that it tees into the main 2" PVC just above the slip joint/check valve running above the main pump. I did this after the 1st time I had to replace the sump pump in the middle of the night.

The check valves keep the water from flowing back into the hole if one is being changed or is removed (not shown in the instructions). I have a capped piece of PVC to slip in if I need to remove one - long term. I also have a new sump pump plummed and ready to slip in. Again a lesson learned as every time it has failed it was 2-4 am and in-case I have to talk the wife thru it on the phone (only need a screw driver for the hose band clamp).

Original price was $~250-300 + the battery (get the full-replacement longest warranty). Well worth it. If you boat you could rotate the older battery to the pump.

The backup won't do the job of the main pump, but it will run to keep the water from rising. You actually want that as the water cools the motor. You can always jerk out your car battery to swap if you run it dead during an emergency. If you could have another marine battery on trickle charge you could have more backup. I have 3 cars so, I can always pull 1 if I need it. If it's a flood, then insurance is your friend. :(

It usually just goes off when our sump pump dies or power goes off during a storm. Mostly has been when the pump dies every 4-5 years. The first pump lasted 8-9 years, the rest are running 3-4 years.

What is a sump pump??


"GOOGLE" it. :rolleyes:

Respectfully,
John R.

The power inverter solves that problem.


You know, I was lying in bed about four hours after posting my message and thought, "Oh crap, I posted wrong information." I should have known better.

Thanks for clearing that up! :thumbsup:

Respectfully,
John R.

These water powered sump backups are very good.

http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm

I'm replacing my old water powered home guard with one.

Mike

Don't need a sump pump. But I could use a extra shovel in about 5-6 months...maybe sooner.

"GOOGLE" it. :rolleyes:

Respectfully,
John R.
Thanks for the help...oh wait...
(I'm just kidding)

I did later that night, interesting stuff, nobody in CA has a basement. Ya learn something every day!

Thanks Dean, my house is one year old with a finished basement and since we've had a lot of water lately, I want to make sure it keeps working.

http://www.basepump.com/Products.htm

They have them both in water and battery powered.