Anything special about a battery for a 12V sump backup?

[scdeerslayer]

Make sure it's a true deep cycle and not a "marine" deep-cycle that's a hybrid for starting and running devices on a boat.

But how much capacity would you really need for 5 minutes? Seems like it might be easier to get a UPS instead of a battery and separate maintainer if it has enough capacity.

 

[RNeumann]

Make sure it's a true deep cycle and not a "marine" deep-cycle that's a hybrid for starting and running devices on a boat.

But how much capacity would you really need for 5 minutes? Seems like it might be easier to get a UPS instead of a battery and separate maintainer if it has enough capacity.

I extended the wires that went to an internal UPS battery and attached those to a car sized 12v lead acid deep cycle. It has been in service about 10 years now.

 

[kcflhrc]

A deep-cycle battery is a lead-acid battery designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity. In contrast, starter batteries (e.g. most automotive batteries) are designed to deliver short, high-current bursts for cranking the engine, thus frequently discharging only a small part of their capacity.

 

[sixdogs]

After some research and comments in this thread, I bought a Duracell 31DTMAGM deep cycle battery. It's BIG and I got it at Sam's Club. I called the company beforehand and they confirmed that any deep cycle AGM battery is what they would suggest. They told me their branded battery would likely run four hours continuous and 8 hours intermittent so I figure with what I bought I can cover any emergency. It will likely only run once a year and maybe not even that.

Remember, my use for this 12V backup is only until I can start the generator. If there was no power back on in an hour or so I can just start the generator. What I bought was the biggest I could find that would fit in the box and it should work fine.

And, in two or three years, I can put the battery in a tractor and get a new one if need be.

 

[lhfarm]

My sump pump failed this morning. Luckily caught it before damage. The float stuck. The pump is on a generator so I'm looking for a backup pump to cover this sort of failure. As I was shopping for primary/12v systems, the prices for the manufacturer's batteries are almost as much as the pump. Came to TBN to see if I really need to buy for ~ $250-300. Could you or others share the brand of pump you are using?

Thanks,
Barry

 

[sixdogs]

I'm the OP here and I bought a Wayne ESP 25 backup pump and a Duracell battery. The pump rated the best after extensive searching and I bought it mail order from Home Depot for the best price. I think $175 or so. Wayne pumps always seemed to get a good review so I went with them and I'm glad I did.

Here's the ESP25 owner's manual.
https://www.waynepumps.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2016/05/354001-001_0711-WEB.pdf

Here's the ESP25 pump
ESP25 | WAYNE Pumps

For a battery, I bought the biggest and best AGM battery I could find and that was a Duracell 31DTMAGM. It was around $175 at Sam's Club, was in stock and has a longer warranty than the Wayne battery.
Duracell AGM Deep Cycle Marine and RV Battery - Group Size 31 - Sam's Club

That's what worked for me and it all goes in within the next couple of days.

 

[lhfarm]

I'm the OP here and I bought a Wayne ESP 25 backup pump and a Duracell battery. The pump rated the best after extensive searching and I bought it mail order from Home Depot for the best price. I think $175 or so. Wayne pumps always seemed to get a good review so I went with them and I'm glad I did.

Here's the ESP25 owner's manual.
https://www.waynepumps.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2016/05/354001-001_0711-WEB.pdf

Here's the ESP25 pump
ESP25 | WAYNE Pumps

For a battery, I bought the biggest and best AGM battery I could find and that was a Duracell 31DTMAGM. It was around $175 at Sam's Club, was in stock and has a longer warranty than the Wayne battery.
Duracell AGM Deep Cycle Marine and RV Battery - Group Size 31 - Sam's Club

That's what worked for me and it all goes in within the next couple of days.

Thanks. I just order the combo setup (preassembled 120v/12v) Wayne system and will go with the Duracell battery.

 

[sixdogs]

Thanks. I just order the combo setup (preassembled 120v/12v) Wayne system and will go with the Duracell battery.

When you get the battery, bring a couple men and a boy. That is the heaviest battery I ever picked up.

 

[bigtiller]

While you have it apart, put in a new check valve. Mine failed to open once, making the pump useless.

 

[jel1988]

I've installed about 20 battery back up pumps over the years. Buy the kit with all the bits and a deep cycle battery. The larger the battery the longer it will run, remember it has to fit into the battery box. DO NOT EVER USE THE CITY WATER POWERED BACKUPS these have flooded more basements than they have saved!
P.S. Follow the instructions to the letter, make sure you have a large enough sump ( a 5 gal plastic bucket won't work) make sure the float switches don't interfere with each other.