Explain a power inverter?

I'm looking for a temporary sump-pump backup power source for electricity power outages. I know battery backup systems are available for permanent installation. But I'm wondering about temporary use of a power inverter, which I admittedly don't fully understand. Could I attach one to one of my trucks and use to run a pump? I know I would have to monitor when it was needed, but maybe it would have saved me more than an hour of bailing and carrying water from my basement earlier this spring when we lost power. (The sump pit was filling to overflowing every four minutes, and the bailing and hauling 10 gallons up stairs that fast nearly killed me -- too old for that crap!) I know I can also use a small generator to run a pump, which is one logical soluption. I'm just thinking of alternative backup ideas.

It would take a very large inverter to run a sump pump, and you would have to leave the truck idle for it to work. I think a generator would be a better solution, there are some good buys now that are reliable if you take care of them, and they can power the coffee pot too!

You could, but it needs to be sized appropriately for the load and duration you will need power. Reason I responded is I have a solar back up power system and it will provide ample power in an outage from the battery bank through the inverter. You wouldn't need a system this size, but as long as you have a battery/battery bank of the right size, it can be done. I don't know what an automotive battery would provide, and for how long, but with the engine running, at least you have a steady supply, just don't know if it matches up to the draw on the other side. With my system, either solar will charge the battery bank, or I can bulk charge it with a short run of a generator such as my Miller Trailblazer NT 251 welder.

I have a 2000/4000 watt inverter mounted permanently in my truck. I did it because I need to run power tools in the woods now and then. It allows me to do that without carting around a generator. Not for everyone, but for my needs it has worked great.

A sump pump can draw up to 4000 watts at first start and then taper down to 1/4 of that. So an inverter rated for 2000 watts full time and 4000 watts surge is a good size.

As others have mentioned, you might find a portable generator more cost-effective.

If you want to use an inverter - figure $130 for a cheap inverter. Then you ought to have a battery to run it. Not a great idea to try to run it off the starting battery in your truck. It can draw up around 80 amps @ 12 volts in constant running and over 300 amps @ 12 volts when first starting. Thus why an extra battery in the system is needed.

I have a large deep-cycle battery mounted on the wheel-wheel in the back of my truck. It is hooked to a batttery isolation relay so it is only hooked to my two starting batteries when my truck is running. This way if I use the inverter with the truck off, I cannot kill my starting batteries.

For a good permanent system in your truck - figure at least $130 for the inverter, $100 for a large deep cycle battery, $20 for a good isolation relay, and more bucks for heavy wiring.

If you are thinking of running a large inverter with temporary battery clamps to your running truck, it likely will not work. Too much amp draw and too much load on the OEM electrical system.

I should of mentioned one simple fact. The inverter can draw as much as the starter-motor on your truck. The difference is - your 12 volt system is designed to drop down to 9 volts when your starter cranks. That is what one battery does under a high load. An inverter however - shuts off when voltage gets below 10.5 or 11 volts - if even for a fraction of a second. So, a large inverter will not work just hooked to your truck battery. It will just shut itself off if put under a high load.

How about a bilge pump? I don't know how high they might pump that would be the factor if would work or not. Luck joe
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For years, I have seen battery-backup pumps for sale. No inverter needed. Just connect to a 12v source and it'll run....till the battery won't run it anymore. Can keep the battery charged with any vehicle.

Check here:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=12v+sump+pump

Another possibility if removing clear water (no trash or sediment) might be a 12v transfer pump, though they may have trouble if having to lift the water several feet out of a basement.

You would at the least, need to leave your truck running, unless it was for a very short time. I used and 1850 Coleman generator to run my sump pump, and furnace fan, and it worked fine.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Instead of spending money on an inverter I would get a 12 volt sump pump.

Keep it hooked up to a battery with the float switch set a little higher than your 110v pump so it only comes on if the 110v pump fails to start because of no power or a pump failure.

You could keep a maintainer hooked to the battery and in the event of an extended outage run a charge line to your truck.

Look at old-9 for a little battery powered sump pump. Unplug your sump pump. When you finish hooking up your little 12v sump pump take a hose and Slowly fill the pit. You should here the switch on your regular pump "click" when the water is deep enough. Turn the water off. You will need a brick or bricks to make a platform for the 12 volt pump. Make it just high enough so water will not over flow out of the pit. Use a good deep cycle battery and put a good battery maintainer on it. Not one of those stupid $9.oo hf things. One of my friends had a pretty bad flood in the basement. Hooked up a system like I just described and never ever had another problem. A little more advice. Two or three times a year give your bilge pump a test run. Spiders and bugs can plug things up. It is amazing how a little pump moving two or three coffee cups of water a minute can save your basement. Put the biggest battery on the system you care to afford.

Get a generator instead- then you can keep your refer and freezer cold during a power outage as well.

Rossow, I've owned several Inverters (farmer, 49 year RV owner, used truck n tractor dealer) and can tell you a few things to keep in mind.

1) An Inverter, which converts 12 VDC to 120 VAC, will require "approximately" 11 battery amps for each amp the 120 VAC motor draws. Say the pump required 6 amps, that means when its running you would be drawing around 66 amps from your battery.

2) The rating of the inverter in Watts needs to be greater (or at least an honest surge rating) then the motors rating in watts since when the motor starts it requires maybe 3 to 6 times what it does to run. I have one PSW Inverter now that's rated 2000 Watts continuous and 4000 Watts peak/surge. If your pump required say 1500 watts to operate I wouldn't recommend much less then a 2000/4000 Watt Inverter. Of course, if the pump was only say 750 watts, then a 1000 to 1500 with 2000 Surge might (subject to design) work.

3) BATTERY and ALTERNATOR: If the pump were to run a long time and your alternator (assuming you run the engine when pump running) wasn't capable of keeping the battery charged, a true Deep Cycle battery might be wise. If you don't run the engine and alternator and the pump runs very long, then you really really need a deep cycle battery versus ONLY the trucks starting battery. It may be overkill but Id prefer the engines starting battery be left to do its job and you install a true deep cycle battery (of sufficient capacity) if you're gonna run the pump very much via an Inverter

4) Most Inverters Ive owned are notorious (for protection reasons) to shut down if battery voltage drops excessively so you're gonna need enough battery capacity so voltage drop isn't excessive when the pump starts. That's more of a battery then inverter issue IE you not only need a big enough Inverter, you need enough battery and alternator capacity all subject to the watts of your pump.

Can you find a 12 VDC pump?? That would eliminate the inverter inefficiency losses.

How about a 2000 watt Inverter Generator??? That should start n run a decent sized pump, no big honkin batteries and inverters required

Bottom Line Sure an adequate sized Inverter and sufficient battery capacity and the means to keep the battery charged and so its voltage doesn't drop excessively when the pump starts CAN DO THE JOB but a 12 VDC pump or a small portable genset might work out better YOUR MONEY YOUR CHOICE

WE REPORT YOU DECIDE LOL

John T

Here you go with one of the largest 120V only generators for operating sump pumps, fridges , freezers, window shaker AC units , lights and microwaves .
More "usable " power than a 4000W generator with 120/240.
Low cost, light weight and reliable vs an invertor system. https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100103-3800-watt-generator/

I know several contractors who stopped using Hondas and switched to the much cheaper Champion generators. From what I have heard, they hold
up fine. Chinese or not, Champion seems to be good with quality control and design.

Hey Glen, There are so many copy cats and knock offs out there especially in the RV user market its hard to keep up lol. Many RVers used Honda and Yamaha but I've see more and more of the different usually lower cost units in the past year. Ive also heard horror stories of the off brand units when they cant get parts or service !!!!!!!!!!!!What's funny to me (but NOT to RVer Billy Bob) when they try to figure out the difference between a Floating and a Bonded Neutral and wonder why their energy management system are throwing alarms !!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well if the OP wants to go the Inverter route or a genset we will try n help him.

John T

A 12 volt backup pump is a simpler and better solution. If you have room, you can use a marine bilge pump. These pumps are typically rated around 2000 gallons per hour (albeit at a very low rise).

I don't suppose you're on city water, but if you are there are backup devices that use city water flow to suck out the sump.

Of course, if you have water coming into the basement that fast, you need to figure out how to divert it. I put in an additional drain tile at our house a few years ago and now the pump well is usually dry.

My brothers basement was designed for sump pumps. He is at the base of a large bluff,he has one battery back up and two 115v. The battery is just to have time to start the generator if the power goes out.He claims the worst feeling is having the power go out and watching the pit an inch from overflowing for thee hours and he had four pumps running. So far he has kept the place dry since 1993(when built)