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

[sixdogs]

jel1988--Good advice.

There is a question I don't have an answer for, so maybe you can help. If both my regular sump pump as well as backup pump are running at the same time, is the 1 1/2" PVC pipe to the outside large enough to handle them both? Both pumps will feed together into the 1 1/2" exit pipe.

 

[jel1988]

Your back up should only run when the water rises above the level when your primary pump is already switched on.
Your primary pump should be able to handle all the volume your weeping system can deliver.
P.S. Yes an 1.5" pipe would handle both, however this should never happen if your system is set up properly, there should never be any overlap!

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I had a conventional lead-acid marine battery which lasted about 12 years.
Replaced it last month with a Yellow top Optima. I use a "Battery Tender Junior'
We'll see how it goes.

Pete

 

[sixdogs]

Your back up should only run when the water rises above the level when your primary pump is already switched on.
Your primary pump should be able to handle all the volume your weeping system can deliver.
P.S. Yes an 1.5" pipe would handle both, however this should never happen if your system is set up properly, there should never be any overlap!

I live on very flat ground and have a natural drain to a man-made ditch 1200 ft from the house with a 4" corrugated drain tile. I understand both pumps should not operate at the same time but there can be a situation where they might. I have the primary pump set to come on if the water starts to exceed the natural drain level and the backup is set maybe 4" higher. If I have an electricity failure, the backup will cover me until I get the generator going.

All this matters because there are times when we can get torrential rains and in a short amount of time and that volume of water can-- or will-- exceed the ability of the exit from the house to handle. This might happen once ever five years or so although it happened twice last year. In this situation, it is possible the main sump can come on and also the backup because the water is coming in faster than it can get out. Not for long but I could see where both pumps could come on for a short time. The backup would be on only for the time it takes to get the water level back blow it's float switch.

If the power goes out, no problem and if we get a terrible downpour I figure I'm covered as well. Now what do you think?

 

[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.

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

Just a quick follow-up. I installed the pump a week ago and it was a breeze. I ordered the "assembled" Wayne pump and backup pump package. The hardest part was getting the battery into the basement. It was a very heavy battery and the small handle wasn't much help. I changed primary check-valve while I was at it. The biggest surprise was how quiet the pump and valve are. The old pump could be running from the main floor and banged when it quit. At least I knew when it was working.

When I went to test the new pump, I kept dumping in water and I didn't think it was working. The water just didn't get higher. I couldn't hear it over the splashing water.

Glad I came across the post.

 

[sixdogs]

Ironically, I changed my sump pump today and also plumbed in the 12V backup. I have a partial natural drain so I got a "tether" pump and I'll bet it won't run very often. It's so quiet you can't hear it anyway. The 12V backup will give me time in a heavy rain situation to get the generator out. I'm happy as well and Wayne makes the best pump and backup pump, I believe. On the flat ground of the Midwest, you better have a good sump pump and reliable backup.

People laugh when I tell them the hardest part was getting the battery in the basement but it's true. It's like hauling tractor front end weights down the basement stairs.


Edit--make sure to get a couple of those water alarms that sound off if water hits them. Then get a baby monitor and set it up next to the alarms and turn the volume up. If water hits it, and those alarms go off, you'll spring into action right after your heartbeat stabilizes from the noise.

 

[jel1988]

Most battery backup kits have intelligent chargers and alarms. If your primary pump can't handle the flow from a peak rain event then it is undersized, move up to a more powerful pump.

 

[sixdogs]

Most battery backup kits have intelligent chargers and alarms. If your primary pump can't handle the flow from a peak rain event then it is undersized, move up to a more powerful pump.

In my case, I was only concerned with a severe rain event coupled with a power outage. The 12V pump just buys me some time while I hook up the generator. It's not a frequent event but last year we had around 3" of rain in a very short time...maybe an hour and that was more than my system could handle with already saturated ground. Had the power gone out, I would have been up a creek.

The 12V ESP25 Wayne pump referenced above is surprisingly powerful. I tested it out tonight and emptied the basis in short order. I was impressed and glad I bought it. I think it will run around 4 hours continuous or 8 hours intermittent on a full battery charge.