Battery-powered backup power system for a sump pump installation

摘要

An automated battery-powered backup AC power supply system for a sump pump installation of the type having a sump pump and a pump controller which connects the sump pump motor to the AC line to operate in response to a rising liquid level in the sump container. The system includes a standby battery and an inverter operable from the battery for supplying AC power to the sump pump installation in the event of AC power failure or during periodic testing of the sump pump installation. A power controller senses whether the sump pump motor is connected to the AC line by the pump controller and connects the AC inverter to the backup battery to supply AC power to the installation only when the pump is connected, thereby minimizing idle current drain on the battery and prolonging the backup availability of the system.

主权项

1. An automated system for testing and monitoring a sump pump installation of the type operable from AC line current and having a liquid container, a motor driven pump which when powered discharges liquid from the container, and a switch circuit which connects the AC line to the pump motor to power the motor upon the liquid level in the container rising to a first predetermined level, the test and monitoring system comprising:
a liquid conduit including an electrically-actuated valve which admits liquid to the liquid container in response to a valve control signal; a test control module which when actuated supplies a valve control signal to initiate a test cycle during which liquid is admitted to the container to cause the liquid level in the container to rise to at least the first predetermined level, to test the pump discharging of liquid from the container, said test control module then supplies a valve control signal to stop the admittance of liquid upon a predetermined event terminating the test cycle; an indicator circuit which indicates in response to completion of the test cycle whether the pump discharges from the container a portion of the liquid; a standby battery; an inverter operable from the standby battery to supply AC line current to the sump pump installation; and a power controller conditioning the inverter operative to supply AC line current to the sump pump installation only while the switch circuit connects the sump pump motor to the AC line.