Project Description
Can I keep my 1/2 horsepower sump pump running during a tropical storm or hurricane?
You can use the AIMS 3000 watt inverter charger with built in transfer switch to power your sump pump during a power outage. Along with the inverter, you will need a battery bank to power the sump pump when the AC power is unavailable in an outage. The sump pump needs backup power to keep your basement dry during a hurricane.
The amount of emergency power you have available will depend on the size of your battery bank, as well as how often your sump pump cycles on and off. We recommend you use deep cycle marine batteries to build your battery bank. Generally, 1 or 2 AGM sealed lead acid 100 amp hour batteries would be the minimum you would want to use. In terms of backup power, you will never have too much power. In a big storm, like Hurricane Harvey & Irma, people were without power for many days in some heavily populated areas. Having extra emergency backup power will prevent serious damage to your home during a hurricane or tropical storm.
The inverter will need to be connected to the battery bank using 1/0 AWG UL listed cables. Theinverterstore.com recommends always using a inline fuse kit within 12 inches of the battery bank on the positive terminal to prevent a battery fire caused by a ground fault. When the AC power goes out, this inverter/charger will automatically switch over to run off the batteries. Eliminating the need to wake up in the middle of the night and start your noisy generator.