What is a Watchdog Battery Backup?
Basements are more prone to flooding. When the water trickles in, there's no place to go. That's why basements have sump pumps installed in a pit. However, storms that cause flash flooding and high winds also cut down the power line — leaving your home without electricity for days.
Watchdog battery backup for sump pumps automatically start pumping during blackouts or power outages when the main sump pump fails or when water flow exceeds the capacity of the main pump. For those times when the sump pump fails, it's a good idea to have a backup plan like Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations.
These lightweight and compact batteries charge sump pumps and other appliances, like ACs, heaters, and refrigerators. Simply connect the sump pumps in the output port of the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations and start powering the appliance whenever you experience power outages.
Why Do You Need a Battery Backup for Watchdog Sump Pumps?
If you live in an area that's close to the floodplain or have a high water table, you'll have a sump pump installed. Here are a few reasons why you should invest in battery backup for sump pumps.
- A battery backup will not only power the sump pump but also other appliances that might need continuous power.
- It ensures the sump pump never stops and helps protect homes from water damage.
- If the power goes out or the circuit breaker trips, the backup battery will continue to operate efficiently.
How Does Battery Backup for Watchdog Sump Pumps Work?
The watchdog battery backup for sump pump is a two-stage system. The sump pump uses the home's power when electricity is available — and when there is a power cut, the battery backup starts functioning by supplying electricity to the sump pump. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations can charge small to large appliances like sump pumps.
The Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels are made with monocrystalline silicon solar cells and can convert free solar energy into DC electricity. The Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations feature a pure sine wave inverter to quickly convert the DC to AC electricity, which can then be supplied to electrical appliances like sump pumps.
How Many Watts Does a Watchdog Sump Pump Use?
The watts consumed by the watchdog sump pump will directly depend on the horsepower and motor voltage. Sump pumps require starting and running watts, where starting watts are typically higher than running watts. Here are the different sump pumps with their wattage:
- A sump pump with ½ horsepower will draw around 2150W-4100W starting watts and 1050W running watts.
- ⅓ horsepower sump pumps draw 800W running watts and nearly 1300-2900W starting watts.
- Sump pumps with ¼ horsepower consume 1050W starting watts and 500-600W running watts.
Best 3 Watchdog Battery Backups For Sump Pump
Like any other household appliance, the sump pump uses power directly from the grid. However, power outages can stop the sump pumps working. For this reason, many people often consider investing in a watchdog battery backup to provide a layer of security during power outages. Jackery offers many portable power stations that are designed to supply electricity to different appliances like sump pumps. Here are some of the best battery backups for watchdog sump pumps.
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station offers unparalleled output and has a LiFePO4 battery capacity of 1264Wh. It's versatile and expandable in capacity, making this battery backup ideal for home emergencies and off-road travel. This power station is ideal if you want to charge low-power-consuming sump pumps for a short period. You can even carry the battery backup while enjoying outdoor adventures like camping or RVing. What's even more exciting is that the battery capacity can be expanded from 1.2kWh to 5kWh with Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus.
Customer Review
"I purchased the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus to help during the expected power outages this Winter. The ability to expand the capacity with external batteries is a welcome feature that I will need during extended blackouts. One of the reasons that I chose the Jackery Explorer line is that they are reliable, self-contained units and do not require other equipment to operate." — Tennessee Experimenter.
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station
The large and expandable Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station can power heavy-duty appliances up to 6000W. It's compatible with Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus to extend the capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh. If you are looking to power high-end sump pumps, you may consider this Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station. Similar to the previously mentioned battery backup, it features an outstanding LiFePO4 battery with a 10-year lifespan.
Customer Review
"The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is a true game-changer portable power. It has exceptional expandability and ultra-fast charging. Connecting these two units in parallel allowed me to expand the battery capacity to 24kWh, providing me with a lot of power for all my indoor and outdoor needs." — Jake D.
Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station
The power master Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station has a large capacity of 3024Wh and can power 99% of outdoor appliances. Its pull rods and double wheels make transportation to the power station easier. It can charge heavy-duty watchdog sump pumps for hours, ensuring you can keep your home protected from water damage. The larger home battery backup can be integrated with home circuits via the Transfer Switch.
Customer Review
"I just had this Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro for a month, and so far, it's so good. I was able to run every single appliance in my house without any problem, the 4-door refrigerator, the 85-inch TV, the 4-in-1 portable air conditioner, electric fans, etc., while using all the USB and AC plugins at the same time." — JOCARPO.
How Long Does Jackery Battery Backup Run a Watchdog Sump Pump?
Generally speaking, a fully charged battery backup can last anywhere between 3-4 hours of continuous pumping or roughly 10-12 hours of discontinued pumping. Let's take an example to understand:
Imagine you are using Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station to charge a sump pump consuming 1050W of electricity. You can use the below formula to calculate its working time.
Working Time = Battery Capacity * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of Appliance = 2042.8Wh * 0.85 / 1050W = 1.6H.
If you want to charge the sump pump longer, consider expanding the battery capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh.
Here's a table revealing the technical specifications of the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, along with their running time.
Product |
Output Rated/Surge |
Capacity |
Weight/Size |
Appliances |
2000W (4000W Peak) |
1264Wh |
32 lbs / 14.5 kg
|
Sump Pump ¼ hp (550-600W): 1.7-2.1H Sump Pump ½ hp (1050W): 1H Sump Pump ⅓ hp (800W): 1.3H |
|
3000W (6000W Peak) |
2042.8Wh |
61.5 lbs / 27.9 kg
|
Sump Pump ¼ hp (550-600W): 2.8-3.1H Sump Pump ½ hp (1050W): 1.6H Sump Pump ⅓ hp (800W): 2.1H Sump Pump ¾ hp (1500W): 1.1H Sump Pump 1 hp (2000W): 52 min |
|
3000W (6000W Peak) |
3024Wh |
63.93 lbs / 29 kg |
Sump Pump ¼ hp (550-600W): 4.2-4.6H Sump Pump ½ hp (1050W): 2.4H Sump Pump ⅓ hp (800W): 3.2H Sump Pump ¾ hp (1500W): 1.7H Sump Pump 1 hp (2000W): 1.2H |
Jackery also offers portable and powerful solar generators designed to charge different appliances. They combine Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels and Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, helping you charge the battery backup during power outages or while living off-grid.
How to Choose the Best Watchdog Battery Backup For Sump Pumps?
Battery backups for sump pumps require a high upfront cost — and hence, it is essential to choose the best watchdog battery backup. If you want to keep the basement free from water damage, here are the factors to remember.
Capacity
Battery capacity refers to how much energy or power the battery can store or deliver to the connected appliances. This means that if the battery capacity is higher, it can supply electricity for long hours. The best way to pick the proper battery backup is by calculating the sump pump wattage. Always make sure the battery has enough capacity to supply electricity for at least a few hours in case any power outage occurs.
Size
Next, the size of the battery backup is an essential factor to keep in mind. You'll want to consider a watchdog battery backup for a sump pump that's easy to move from one place to another. It should at least have wheels and a handle for moving the power station and charging appliances. Generally speaking, Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations is lighter compared to other battery backups with the same capacity. A portable sump pump battery backup ensures you can even charge outdoor appliances whenever needed.
Quiet
Unlike gas generators, solar battery backups do not emit any toxic fumes or noise. Consider looking for a battery backup that operates with only 30-45dB, which resembles the refrigerator's hum. Most of the large Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations emit only 30dB of noise when operating.
Input/Output Ports
The number of outlets represents how many appliances can be charged simultaneously with the battery backup. If you want to charge multiple electrical devices along with sump pumps, you may consider Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations. For example, the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station features 4*AC, 2*USB-C, and 1*carport output ports to charge 7 appliances simultaneously.
Long Battery Life
The sump pump battery backup should have a long battery life, reducing frequent repair and replacement costs. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have LiFePO4 and NMC batteries that are long-lasting for up to 10 years.
Watchdog Battery Backup FAQs
How long does a watchdog sump pump battery last?
A watchdog sump pump battery is designed to last anywhere between 5-7 years, depending on how well it's maintained and used.
How long will a battery-powered backup sump pump last?
A battery-powered backup sump pump can even last up to 10 years. Since Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have safe and stable LiFePO4 or NMC batteries, they can last relatively longer.
Does the Basement Watchdog charge the battery?
Yes, Basement Watchdog sump pumps have an automatic charger to extend the battery lifespan while maintaining maximum battery charge.
What size battery backup do I need for a sump pump?
The size of the battery backup ideal for a sump pump will depend on its battery capacity and the wattage consumed by the appliance. For example, if you want to charge an 800W sump pump for 2 hours, you'll probably need a battery backup to supply at least 1000-2000Wh.
Conclusion
Sump pumps are undoubtedly one of the most important appliances at home. These devices can protect your home from unwanted water damage. However, power outages are becoming more common than ever. Thankfully, additional battery backups can provide continuous and stable electricity to different sizes of watchdog battery backup for sump pumps.
Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations are one of the popular sump pump battery backups designed to charge most home or outdoor appliances. For example, the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station is a great choice if you want a whole home battery backup. On the other hand, if you're unsure which power station will meet your needs, you may try the expandable Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station.
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