Hello Members not sure if this is under correct section but I’m looking for a good backup battery pump system. We have this Basement watchdog but the backup battery system charging unit is junk. This thing breaks down and has been replaced more times then I would like to say since it purchase. I’m talking like every year if not more. Does anyone have any recommendations for others even if I have to purchase a commercial unit. Thanks for any assistance.
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Battery Backup Pump system
- Thread starter Bluejoe
- Start date
kctyphoon
Banned
Every knowledgeable person I've spoken with always recommends a water powered pump over a battery backup unit, citing it will always work when you need it to. They are not very expensive either if you can install one yourself. Yet another thing on my wish list. All to often it seems the batteries always die on battery powered units.
As long as OP isn't on a well.
What battery are you using with the watchdog? Why not ditch the watchdog charging circuitry and use a battery tender to keep the battery at a float charge?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CITK8S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
What battery are you using with the watchdog? Why not ditch the watchdog charging circuitry and use a battery tender to keep the battery at a float charge?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CITK8S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
JRC3
Well-known member
^
That's what I will do if mine takes a dump.
BTW, Sam's has Duracell RV/marine batteries 20% off right now. The WatchDog battery sensor will screw right into a Duracell battery.
But if the power goes out it is useless to nearly 20% of US homes. If I did not have a well I would have one.
That's what I will do if mine takes a dump.
BTW, Sam's has Duracell RV/marine batteries 20% off right now. The WatchDog battery sensor will screw right into a Duracell battery.
Every knowledgeable person I've spoken with always recommends a water powered pump over a battery backup unit, citing it will always work when you need it to. They are not very expensive either if you can install one yourself. Yet another thing on my wish list. All to often it seems the batteries always die on battery powered units.
But if the power goes out it is useless to nearly 20% of US homes. If I did not have a well I would have one.
Last edited:
bob15
Well-known member
A family member has a Zoeller 507 battery back-up and M98 sump pump for about 4 years now and has had zero issues with it. About 3 weeks ago, it ran for about 5 hours before power was back on. no problems with it and it work as it was supposed to.
When using/owing a battery back-up sump pumps, you need a good deep cycle marine battery, a battery tender and you must check it periodically.
Water powered back-up might be OK providing you have city water. They don't work so good on well water. Personally, I just trust the battery back-up more....or look into a stand-by generator with an auto-transfer switch.
When using/owing a battery back-up sump pumps, you need a good deep cycle marine battery, a battery tender and you must check it periodically.
Water powered back-up might be OK providing you have city water. They don't work so good on well water. Personally, I just trust the battery back-up more....or look into a stand-by generator with an auto-transfer switch.
kctyphoon
Banned
Well obviously if you have well water, which is an oddity by me, that's not for you.. maybe a car battery and a battery tender is a better option.. I bought one of the watchdog kits and the battery doesn't last.. I don't even bother anymore.
maybe a car battery and a battery tender is a better option..
Just to be clear a car battery should not be used, this is an application for a deep cycle battery.
engineer2
Well-known member
I have a Basement Watchdog.
Pro
No failure of electronics yet.
Works fine IF the battery is in good condition.
Con
Pump is undersized. If you have a power outage and a shitload of rain, it won't keep up. Just talked to someone who had their basement flood because the backup pump worked fine, but couldn't keep up.
Its battery charger will constantly cook the water out of your battery. Plan on adding water every month. Lots of it. I keep a gallon of distilled water and an automotive battery filler jug handy. I go through a gallon and a half a year.
Float voltage is around 13.7, charging voltage is about 15.8. Too high in my opinion. The power supply that comes with it is unregulated, so voltages vary.
Beeps with any power glitch that has to be manually reset to silence it.
Beeps to let you know there is a power failure. I can figure that out on my own, thanks.
You have to figure out when your battery is at the end of its life. Usually 4 years.
Don't get an Ace in the Hole. There is a component on the circuit board that fails annually rendering it inoperative.
Pro
No failure of electronics yet.
Works fine IF the battery is in good condition.
Con
Pump is undersized. If you have a power outage and a shitload of rain, it won't keep up. Just talked to someone who had their basement flood because the backup pump worked fine, but couldn't keep up.
Its battery charger will constantly cook the water out of your battery. Plan on adding water every month. Lots of it. I keep a gallon of distilled water and an automotive battery filler jug handy. I go through a gallon and a half a year.
Float voltage is around 13.7, charging voltage is about 15.8. Too high in my opinion. The power supply that comes with it is unregulated, so voltages vary.
Beeps with any power glitch that has to be manually reset to silence it.
Beeps to let you know there is a power failure. I can figure that out on my own, thanks.
You have to figure out when your battery is at the end of its life. Usually 4 years.
Don't get an Ace in the Hole. There is a component on the circuit board that fails annually rendering it inoperative.
Last edited:
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
As long as OP isn't on a well.
What battery are you using with the watchdog? Why not ditch the watchdog charging circuitry and use a battery tender to keep the battery at a float charge?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CITK8S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Plug your battery tender into a cheap mechanical lamp timer and set it to run no more than 4 hours per day. Also use a true deep cycle/discharge battery mot marine dual purpose, even if that means two 6V golf cart batteries. Check the electrolyte level at least once a month and keep the batteries clean. These simple steps will maximize the life expectancy of your battery.
Ok I would rather use battery backup then using house water and it’s pressure. I will check out Zoeller pump. I thought of using Tender battery trick charging. If the backup pump is running will the Tender battery charging unit be effected by the use of pump drawing current while staying on. Not sure if I said that right.
Hello It’s actually the basement watchdog sensor unit that goes bad. It’s a small box with a computer board inside. There are indicator lights on outside which signal when battery is low on water or power supply is effected. It will beep in I guess distress mode if anything occurs. Then you have to fix problem/s and reset. This small box always goes bad. When you call the company and depending who you speak with they say Well it’s over warranty period and it will cost money for repair. It seems like a ongoing problem with these and you think they would improve them. I like the idea that this unit will tell you what is wrong or battery is low on water. I’m going to look into different options.
ishiboo
Well-known member
IMO if battery backup is the need, the best option is a quality bilge pump (what a lot of the battery backup units use is a cheap one) combined with either a deep cycle battery and charger, or two 6v golf cart batteries and charger. You need to test it regularly - the Achilles heel of just about all pump systems is the float switch/sensor/etc.
Dirtydan69
Well-known member
I’ve had good results with the unified pump system by a Barracuda that Menards sells. $500 all in including the battery. That being said the water powered one is pretty much fool proof unless you are on a well. Only issue is that it needs a 3/4” feed line and quite often it takes a 30’ run across the basement.
fivespdcat
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1,520
I have the basement watchdog and the biggest difference I saw in battery lifetime was when I pulled it off the floor. Battery is always charged now and doesn't drain. I just made a shelf and mounted it to one of the walls
Car batteries are for supplying a lot of current in short bursts and really don't like being deeply discharged.It drastically shortens their life For devices that run on batteries, rather than start on them, there are deep discharge batteries, a whole 'nother animal. I am a fan of AGM (activated glass mat) construction batteries for their durability. I also have a couple of Battery Tender Pluses that have served me well.Well obviously if you have well water, which is an oddity by me, that's not for you.. maybe a car battery and a battery tender is a better option.. I bought one of the watchdog kits and the battery doesn't last.. I don't even bother anymore.
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