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Quick Intro To Sump Pump Battery Backup Power
Understanding sump pump battery back up power is important because batteries offer a great way to power a sump pump and keep a basement dry when the electricity fails, a primary pump fails to keep up with the volume of pit water or mechanically fails.
Battery backup power is often misunderstood because it cannot be seen and how it can be used to power a sump pump is a mystery to the onlooker. Battery power cannot be seen because it generates electricity from a chemical reaction within the battery.
In reality a battery stores chemical energy within its cells not electrical energy. It's the electrochemical reactions called oxidation and reduction between the electrons that creates them to flow and provide an electrical current. The battery manufacturer determines which electrodes and electrolytes are used to produce the chemical reaction, how the battery works, how much energy it can store and its voltage.
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Sump Pump Battery Back Up Power Review Table of Contents
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Batteries play a significant role as an alternative source of power when electricity fails. The main advantages and disadvantages are outlined below. We believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Battery Power Advantages
Battery Power is a great alternative to use when the electricity fails and sump pumpm are needed. Here are four major advantages.
Though battery power is a great alternative power source to use when electricity fails, there are three important disadvantages to keep in mind.
1) The run time before battery depletion is limited to 5 - 7 hours or continuous pumping. Most electrical power is restored on an average within two hours, but there are exceptions during major storms and this is when sump pumps are needed most.
2) Batteries do wear out. Their electrochemical reactions, oxidation and reduction between the electrons, loses its effectivity. Lead acid batteries need to be replaced every 3 - 5 years. AGM batteries last at least 7 years.
3) Knowledge of one's backup sump pump specifications is needed. Not all backup control units and battery boxes are built to handle all battery group sizes.
Sump Pump Batteries Are Readily Available And Easy To Install
Batteries for backup sump pumps are readily available because they use the same battery type as boats: a deep cycle marine battery. A deep cycle marine battery provides continuous power unlike a car battery which gives a high burst of power for starting. In an emergency a car battery will work, but the long term results are not the same. Check out the available batteries by battery group size below.
When it comes to installing a battery for a backup sump pump, it is easy. The two battery cables from the control unit are attached to the two battery terminals. The tricky part is the order in which they are attached. When connecting a new battery, the positive cable is attached first to the battery terminal, then the negative cable. When disconnecting the cables from the old battery, the order is reversed: the negative cable is disconnected first from the battery terminal, then the positive.
How To Replace A Sump Pump Battery
Replacing a sump pump battery is easy. Just make sure to connect the positive and negative cable in the right order: When installing a new battery, attach the positive cable first; then the negative. Here are the basic steps for installing a new battery.
1) Unplug the backup control unit from the electric wall outlet.
2) Unhook the cables from the old battery. Unplug the negative cable from the old battery first; then the positive cable.
3) Remove the old battery from the box so it is ready for the new battery.
4) Place the new battery in the box. Attach the positive (red) cable first; then the negative (black) cable.
5) Place the control top (cover) back on the box.
6) Plug the control box battery charger into the wall socket.
7) Look to see if the battery is charged or note how much charge it already has. With the battery charger plugged in, the battery will charge to 'full' charge. The rate at which it charges depends upon the chargers amps. 20 Amp chargers can fully charge a battery in three hours or less.
Batteries come in different group sizes. Group size refers to both length of run time and battery dimensions. The larger the group size the bigger the battery and the longer its run time.
A group size 24 battery is a maximum of 10 inches long, 6.8 inches wide and 8.9 inches high and its run time ranges from 70 to 85 Amp hours. A group size 27 battery is a maximum of 12 inches long, 6.8 inches wide and 8.8 inches high and its run time ranges from 85 to 105 Amp hours. A group size 31 battery is a maximum of 13 inches long, 6.72 inches wide and 8.44 inches high and its run time ranges from 95 to 125 Amp hours of continuous pumping.
Though the larger group size battery sounds ideal, a larger battery does not work with all sump pump controllers and does not fit in all battery boxes. So it is important to know what is needed before buying a deep cycle marine battery.
Most Popular Battery Backup Sump Pumps With Battery Group Size
Wayne Battery Backup Sump Pumps
Wayne Battery Backup Model Original ESP25 and Upgraded ESP25n work with Battery Group size 24 or 27 with a continuous run time of 6.7 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 1,500 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Basement Watchdog Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Basement Watchdog Backup Model BWE works with Battery Group size 24 or 27 with an intermittently run time of 80 to 100 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 1,000 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Basement Watchdog Backup Model BWSP works with Battery Group size 27 or 30 with an intermittently run time of 48 to 60 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 1,850 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Basement Watchdog Backup Model BWD12-120C works with Battery Group size 27 or 30 with an intermittently run time of 40 to 50 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 2,200 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Glentronics (Basement Watchdog) PHCC-1850 works with Battery Group size 27 with a run time of 100 hours on fully charged battery if it runs once a minute. The pumping performance is 1,850 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Superior Pumps Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Superior Pumps Battery Backup Model 92900 and 92910 work with Battery Group size 27 with a continuous run time of 7.5 hours on a 100AH fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 1,080 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Red Lion Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Red Lion RL-SPBS works with Battery Group size 27 with a continuous run time of 6 - 8 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 1,755 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Zoeller Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Zoeller Battery Backup Model 507-0005 works with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 7 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 900 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Zoeller Model 508-0005 and 508-0014 work with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 6 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 2,040 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Zoeller Model 585-0005 works with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 8 - 10 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 2,160 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Liberty Pumps Battery Backup Sump Pumps
- Liberty Battery Backup Model 441 works with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 4.25 hours on a fully charged battery or 6 days if it run 4 cycles per hour. The pumping performance is 1,580 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Liberty Battery Backup Model 442-10A works with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 5 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 2,100 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Liberty Battery Backup Model 442-25A Dual Battery (24 Volt) works with Battery Group size 27 or 31 with a continuous run time of 11 hours on a fully charged battery. The pumping performance is 2,460 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
Connect 2 12v Batteries In Parallel To Extend Pump Run Times
Batteries connected in parallel can double a sump pumps run time. What this means is that the voltage remains the same, but for a 12v 120AH battery the run time increases from 120 AH to 240 AH. Batteries can be connected in parallel for battery backup sump pump systems and power inverters used to provide power for electric sump pumps. This certainly provides additional piece of mind.
However, it is important to keep in mind that control units must be designed to handle two batteries. Not all brands are designed to handle two batteries.
The brands with a control until designed to handle two 12v batteries connected in parallel are: Zoeller, Liberty Pumps, and Basement Watchdog (Glentronics). The Wayne ESP25n is not built to handle two batteries connected in parallel.
Check the battery backup sump pump owner's manual before hooking 2 12v batteries in parallel. If your owner's manual does not include that information, call the sump pump manufacturer.
Five Factors To Consider When Connecting Two 12v Batteries In Parallel
Before buying cables to hook two batteries in parallel, the following factors must be considered.
1) Both batteries must be the same battery size
2) Both batteries should be the same age
3) The Control Unit for a battery backup sump pump system must be designed to handle two 12v batteries
4) The parallel cable size at minimum should be a 12 gauge wire with a 2.05 mm diameter
5) Batteries should be stored in a battery box to prevent water damage.
Homeowners may be hesitant to use battery power because they do not understand how to measure it so it can be relied upon to support a sump pump during electrical power outages.
Measuring the power of electricity is easy because we are all familiar with kilowatt hours, but when it comes to batteries the calculation seems to be confusing.
The Formula For Calculating Battery Run Time
Learning how to calculate how long a battery will last and how long your backup pump can pump before the battery is depleted will put your mind at ease when choosing sump pump battery backup power.
Here Are The Steps To Calculate How Long A Battery Will Run
1) Identify the battery Amp hours (AH).
2) Find the amps the backup pump uses when running. It should be listed in the owner's manual. The backup pump can be specifically designed battery backup sump pump or a primary electric sump pump that runs on battery inverted power.
3) Divide the battery amp hours by the backup sump pump running amps. This is how long the battery backup sump will run continuously.
Here's an example of how to calculate the run time for the Wayne ESP25n. The Wayne Battery WSB1275 is 75 AH (Amp Hours). The Wayne backup pump ESP25n uses 12.4 running Amps. 75 battery Amps divided by 12.4 pump Amps equals 6. So the Wayne ESP25n battery backup sump pump can run 6 continuous hours.
Hooking 2 12v batteries in parallel is easy provided both batteries are the same size, brand, and age and the cable is designed to handle the voltage.
1) Purchase the right sized Battery cable. The higher the cable rating number (AWG), the thinner the wire and the less current it can carry.
-Based on the chart, 12 AWG, which has a diameter of 2.05 mm, can carry 20-25 amps up to 4 feet while 14 AWG, which has a diameter of 1.62 mm, can only carry 15-20 amps the same distance.
- The size the cable should be depends on two things: how much current the cable will carry and how long the cable needs to be.
- The longer the cable needs to be the lower the AWG should be which means the cable wire is thicker. Too thin of a wire or AWG can lead to voltage drop.
- The thicker the wire, the higher the cable cost, the heavier the wire and the more difficult it is to maneuver the cable.
- Discover from the pump manual how much starting and running amps are needed. Then use the AWG table.
2) Unplug the control charger unit from then electric wall socket.
3) Place the batteries in a water proof battery box so the positive terminals are located parallel to each other to eliminate the need for a long battery cable. A thermoplastic battery box works well.
4) Take the positive battery cable and attach it to the two positive battery posts.
5) Take the negative battery cable and attach it to the two negative battery posts.
6) Connect the battery closest to the control unit into its designated plugin on the control unit.
7) Plug the control charge unit into the electric wall socket.
Your battery system is now ready for operation and will double the run time of your battery system
Battery Power Converted To AC Can Run An Electric Sump Pump
Battery power can be used as direct current or it can be converted to electrical power (alternating current). Battery power requires a battery backup sump pump; however when battery power is converted to AC power it can run an electric sump pump.
The conversion of battery power (DC) to electrical power (AC) is possible with an inverter. Converted power makes it possible to use an electric sump pump with a higher pumping capability than a battery backup sump pump.
Installing an inverter is the perfect solutions for homeowners who need a backup system that can pump over 2,100 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
We installed a Sumpro DC to AC power inverter in 2005 because we needed a backup system that can pump 3,300 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height. This has proven to be a very wise investment. It works like a charm. With the inverter our Zoeller M98, 1/2 HP sump pump, runs on electricity and when the electricity fails, the M98 runs on converted battery DC to AC power. The Sumpro has a transfer switch that automatically switches the pump to run on the converted DC power from the two DC deep cycle marine batteries when the electric power fails.
Yes, backup power should be used for a sump pump because sooner or later the electricity will fail, the pump itself will fail to keep up with the volume of rain from heavy rainstorms these days or the switch will fail.
It takes less than thirty minutes to end up with a badly flooded basement and as little as 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow. Rather than spend time and money cleaning up a flooded basement and loosing personal belongings, it is highly recommended that two sump pumps be installed and a backup source of power be used for one of the pumps.
When Should A Battery Inverter Be Used?
A battery inverter is great to use as power for a second electric sump pump that sits in a pit wide enough for two electric pumps. An inverter converts battery power to AC power for an electric pump.
An electric pump runs on electricity until it fails and then the inverter transfer switch automatically causes it to run on the stored converted DC power. Electric pumps work great as backup pumps.
In fact electric pumps are preferred to battery backup sump pumps because they are 1) better built 2) have more pumping capability 3) have more available replacement parts.
Relying strictly on electrical power is not recommended. At some point in time, the electricity will fail, the primary pump will not be able to keep up with the water flowing into the pit, or the switch will fail. Having an alternative to electric power is being a smart home owner.
A battery backup sump pump works best as a second pump when the sump pit is narrow and the pump can be attached to the discharge pipe above the primary pump.
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