Sump Pump Back-Up Battery

[D45]

So, the power was out for 8 hours the other night and the back up battery only lasted 2 hours

The battery is over 5 years old......so should I take it out and put it on my trickle charger overnight or just buy a new battery?

It should have lasted MUCH longer than 2 hours

I have this battery:
Leoch DJM1275, which is a maintenance free Sealed Lead Acid (AGM)

According to the Simer manual, they suggest a 27M or 24M Deep Cycle Marine

The manual also says that a maintenance free sealed GEL battery is not recommended

 

[JerryB]

Can't comment on your current battery, but since it is of a type the equipment supplier says 'not recommended,' I would get a new one of the type they do 'suggest.'

 

[CJ7VFR]

Yes, deep cycle batteries are the ones you want for a battery backup sump pump. They are made to provide power over time, versus the quick starting amps of a regular sealed battery, like you put in a vehicle.

Do a quick Google search of a deep cycle battery and a sealed battery, like the ones that are in your car. This will provide you with the best information about what to get for your battery backup sump pump.

Jim

 

[SGKent]

most lead acid batteries last 3 to 5 years before degrading enough to warrant replacing them. But at that age it is better just to replace it. 27M is greater capacity than 24M. Q. Does this all sit inside a case of some sorts or is the battery just out in the open with cables to it? If so you could parallel batteries for even greater time, or keep a spare battery charged nearby to swap if the outage was more extensive than one battery.

 

[jade97]

They should run it longer than 2 hours.

At my old house, when Sandy hit, my battery lasted 7 hours then I pulled the Motorcraft out of the wife's Explorer & ran that one for 12 hours until I got a generator hooked up. The Explorer started right up when I put it back in. The sump battery was 5 years old at that point.

I'd get a new deep cycle battery & have it tested every other year at a minimum.

 

[Earp69]

Your backup pump didn't come with a trickle charger? I bought the bigger Wayne battery backup sump pump and am very pleased with it,it pumps just as quick as my 3/4 horse 120v pump. I bought the backup pump without there battery, as it was cheaper to buy one at my local battery dealer and I also got a bigger battery.

 

[D45]

Yes, mine has a trickle charger hooked up to the battery

I have a Simer A5500

 

[theoldwizard1]

"Marine/Dual Purpose" batteries are a JOKE ! They charge you extra and do not really provide much more power than a typical "engine starting" (car) battery.

The best "bang for the buck" is a pair of flooded ("wet") golf cart batteries from Costco or Sams. For less than $200 you will have about 225 Ah of power. Yes, you need check/add water maybe once a month. You can buy 6V AGM golf cart batteries that will give you similar power but they cost 2 or 3 times as much !

Lead acid batteries will last longer (and flooded ones will require less water) if your charger/maintainer is connect to a cheap. mechanical lmap timer that limits charging to about 2-4 hours per day.

The do make a battery box that holds TWO 6V golf cart batteries.

 

[rmanrman]

I had a similar problem with my backup battery for my sump pump
If it’s the yellow brand the charge circuit for the battery constantly charges a small current which causes the battery to boil out the water/acid solution. Poor design or cheap design
I had a size 24 marine battery that died in two years. Opened the fill plugs and the battery was 1/2 empty. Plates were exposed battery shot. Now I have a larger 27 battery with a trickle automatic battery charger and the plug from the back up system unplugged
Still check water level every 3 months

 

[D45]

The current battery is a sealed AGM

It looks in good shape but I have no idea how old it is

I might pull it out and hook it up to my auto charger

 

[theoldwizard1]

If you want the BEST 12V TRUE deep cycle AGM battery look for a Trojan T1275-AGM. You will have a hard time finding one and it will only give about 130 Ah and cost over $400 !

 

[n20junkie]

Water powered backups are superior for this reason.

A battery backup just gets you enough time to get the generator running.

 

[D45]

A battery backup just gets you enough time to get the generator running.

I don't agree with this......

Battery should be able to power the sump for atleast 5-6 hours, if the pump is running nonstop

If it's intermittent, on say a 12-16 minute cycle, the battery should be able to power the sump for a day

 

[JRC3]

I'm waiting for the next $20 off sale at Sam's Club. https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-marine-battery-group-size-29hm/prod3590216?xid=plp_product_1_4

Water powered backups are superior for this reason.

Sure, unless you're one of the 15,000,000+ homes with a well.

 

[CKS1955]

I'm waiting for the next $20 off sale at Sam's Club. https://www.samsclub.com/p/duracell-marine-battery-group-size-29hm/prod3590216?xid=plp_product_1_4


Sure, unless you're one of the 15,000,000+ homes with a well.

This battery is what I use as well. Although, I check battery acid monthly. Oh, and we are well water.

Jay

 

[curiousB]

I upgraded my charger many years ago as well. This thread seems mostly focused on the battery but that is only 1/2 the situation. I went with a specialty charger for marine applications, Xantrex TRUECharge 10TB. These chargers are so called three stage chargers, bulk, absorption, and then trickle. It also does a maintenance charge (goes out of trickle charge mode) every 21 days to top up battery and prevent sulfation. I don't think my charger model is sold anymore but but there is surely a newer (probably more capable) version available.

I replace the battery every 4-5 years regardless of battery condition. I just buy the largest deep cycle wet battery Walmart sells (group 27). Since I am protecting myself from a $20-30k flood in my basement I don't nickle dime trying to stretch the battery life (about $100) and extra few years.

I also test the battery sump pump every few months. I'm amazed how many people cry their back up didn't work when the primary AC pump failed. These same folks never seem to check status of battery and if the pump was operating properly.

I also keep a battery hydrometer next to the battery so I can check the electrolyte from time to time.

Since I went to the Xantrex charger I very rarely have to add water to the battery. The primitive chargers I had before would boil off the electrolyte and need constant topping up.

 

[curiousB]

Water powered backups are superior for this reason.

You have to review the performance curve of the pump at the installed head height. Most water powered pumps I have seen have low GPH ratings. My application has a head of 9-10'.

 

[Bretny]

If it was me and my finished basement would flood if my battery sump pump died i would be spending money on a bigger battery or making the sump pit drain to daylight.
If you dont have a finished basement then do you really need a battery backup..short of your electrical pannel getting dunked.

Boilers can actualy take a dunking and if there dried out shouldnt harm them much.

 

[D45]

I guess I need to figure out a group size on what I have now

12V 75AH
Leoch DJM1275

My basement is not finished, half crawl and half poured basement

 

[D45]

Manual just says:

Requires Group 24 or 27 battery (max 130AH)

 

[bamawildcat]

Water powered backups are superior for this reason.

A battery backup just gets you enough time to get the generator running.

I run a water powered Basepump backup in my basement instead of battery. Claim is two gallons of waste water pumped for every 1 gallon of city water. Here it is running upside down showing the venturi action.

 

[Bretny]

Not everyone has city water that they can do this with.

Crawlspace...i would just replace the battery thats in there and not worry to much about it. Keep a generator handy if you loose power.

 

[D45]

I am going to take the battery out and charge it, to keep as a spare

I am going to buy a new battery and am looking for a nicer used generator on Craigslist

 

[D45]

Hooked it up to the charger in the garage and it was full in an hour

I bet it's old and while it shows charged, it's not storing and holding the energy

 

[D45]

CHB1275 shows that its a Group 24 battery

Prices vary from $139 to $285

 

[cherrybomb]

I have a Pro Series 2400 by Glentronics.It came with a lead battery that seemed like it used to much water.I convinced them the charger-controller was running way to often,probably boiling the battery.Replaced the controller,under warrenty and battery.Napa tested the battery for me.After a couple years went with a Optima Marine AGM,blue top.Two year warrenty.Put the date and what the volts ran as I keep my dwell meter near.I also have running water above my sump.I can cut the electricity, quickly fill the sump with water,I can watch and listen,time discharge,check volts discharged and how long charger takes to get back up to full.A dual controlled battery back up,AGM battery has given me a piece of mind as our basement is completely fixed up and I wouldn't like a problem.

 

[D45]

I found a slightly used flooded wet lead back up battery for $40

Charged it, added some water and it works really good

I want to hook it up, with my other back up battery.............to give me a slighlty longer pump run time. Will this work?

Easy as running cable from each battery? POS to POS and NEG to NEG?

 

[nadogail]

So, the power was out for 8 hours the other night and the back up battery only lasted 2 hours

The battery is over 5 years old......so should I take it out and put it on my trickle charger overnight or just buy a new battery?

It should have lasted MUCH longer than 2 hours

I have this battery:
Leoch DJM1275, which is a maintenance free Sealed Lead Acid (AGM)

According to the Simer manual, they suggest a 27M or 24M Deep Cycle Marine

The manual also says that a maintenance free sealed GEL battery is not recommended

A solar panel has kept the battery in my van, which is only driven two or three times a month, alive the panel sits on the dash board next to the windshield and plugs into the 12 socket we used to use to call a Cigarette Lighter.

To CYA (cover your anatomy) IMHO you should use the pump manufacturers recommended battery or an approved replacement.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I found a slightly used flooded wet lead back up battery for $40

Charged it, added some water and it works really good

I want to hook it up, with my other back up battery.............to give me a slighlty longer pump run time. Will this work?

It will work for awhile, but connecting two non-identical batteries in parallel will guarantee that they will both die, sooner.

If you want good battery back up that will last a long time (both run time and life time), buy a pair of 6V golf carts batteries. Under $100/ea at Sam's Club or Costco.

I don't know what you are using for a charger, but for maximum life DO NOT leave them connected to a trickle charger 24/7. Use an old fashioned mechanical lamp timer and only run the trickle charger about 2-4 hours per day.

 

[Showkey]

The stock chargers in the battery back up systems ( under $200 category)are a weak point.
I have had several......they all over charged the battery and pushed water out of the flooded battery. AGM are “slightly more tolerant“ of over charging. My last home the sump pump year round.......so if it stopped ( for any reason) I had a problem!!!!!

I Replaced the stock chargers with a high quality charger* maintainer witha true float charge mode..........problems solved.

Need longer run time two batteries connected in parallel is the answer. Two will just about double the run time. Quality charger* will handle two batteries.

While not cheap ........inverter power for the conventional pump is another option. Battery power runs the pump. Then the battery backup runs after the inverter runs out. If the basement need to stay dry OR $$$$ it’s worth a belt and suspenders approach.

https://www.tripplite.com/support/how-to-select-and-install-inverter-charger-for-sump-pump

* like a CTEK, Accumate, The low cost “tender“ $10 chargers can be a real problem.

I ran three pumps in my situation: One 120volt 1/2hp Pump , one 1/2 HP Pump inverter powered, one 12 volt pump with two batteries. Yes the sump crock was full, pumps were varying heights. None of the pumps shared the same outlets.

My inverter System was home made.......standard pump, standard inverter, AGM battery, battery charge and separate switching from the other pumps.

 

[dcg9381]

The current battery is a sealed AGM

It looks in good shape but I have no idea how old it is

I might pull it out and hook it up to my auto charger

Take it to your local Autozone (or similar where you are) and have it load tested. Load test will give you an idea of it's condition. Make sure your charger is reasonably "smart" - meaning it's not peak and hold.

Without knowing draw of the pump, hard to tell you if 2 hours is on par for a 5 year old battery. Agree with others on battery choice. AGM is great, but there are better options if you need power.

 

[D45]

Finally had to get a battery

Die Hard Deep Cycle Marine/RV 27M

$122 just need to return the core

Recent power failure and the old battery lasted under an hour

Hopefully this one does well

 

[D45]

Well bumping this back up.......

Need to remove and load test the battery, as I am having some intermittent problems with the system charging and/or staying charged

4-1/2 years on this current battery

 

[Snapped-off]

Where are you located? I've got a very nice high capacity battery you can have for free.

 

[Tchicken]

That's a nice offer - this thread reminds me that I haven't heard the sump pump go on, even springtime, in a coupla years. Time to unload that closet, crawl down in the crawl space & check, or bring its carcass out for replacement .. thanks

 

[D45]

Indiana

I just disconnected the battery and put it on a 35 second load test. It Passed

Die Hard says it's a maintenance free battery, so I guess I don't need to pop the covers and check the water level

It's currently charging on my Noco Genius 2

I'll hook it back up and see what happens in a few hours, or however long the Noco takes for a full 2amp trickle charge

 

[D45]

Wow, the Noco gave it a green light, fully charged in under 20 minutes

So it sounds like the battery and Simer back up charger are functioning fine

But! While Die Hard does say maintenance free......the tops caps popped off pretty easily exposing the plates

Definitely needs water. I'm going to pick up some distilled water in a few hours

 

[D45]

Almost 1/3 of a gallon of distilled water added to all six of the battery holes

Capped it back off and the Noco detected a fully charged green status within 5 minutes

Hooked everything back up to the Simer system and time will tell

I wish I knew before that those caps were not plastic fused on and were accessible for water maintenance

 

[Snapped-off]

Well if you're anywhere between Lake and Laporte county, you can have one of my VRLA batteries.

It's about a $1,000 battery. Nov or Dec '24 date code. Plenty of life left.

 

[andyvh1959]

Say 10amps for a common sump pump constant draw. If you hook it up to a fully charged 100 amp/hour battery, by the numbers it should give you ten hours of operation. Derate the application 25% and it should be plenty starting with a fully charged battery for over seven hours operation. A simple battery tender, like Deltran or Shumacher plugged in to keep the battery at full charge, will get the hours needed even when the power is off for hours. I have bought betteries online for mobility carts for low bucks and they have performed well.