Back-Up Standby Battery •Designed to be drained and recharged (ships dry) •Lasts longer and performs better than automotive batteries
Unique Construction •Runs sump pumps longer (more hours per charge) •Extends battery life (normally 5-7 years)
Extended Run Time •Runs Special (BWSP) and Big Dog (BWD12120C) for 7.5 hours •Runs Emergency (BWE) Pump for 12 hours
Special Yellow Cap May be Required •Holds the battery fluid sensor at the correct height •Helps reduce risk of failure (80% of failures due to low water)
WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT BATTERY ACID (SOLD SEPARATELY)
Q: is the watchdog backup sump pump battery refillable? where do i get the acid from? by Kris Shaw from Ohio on July 02, 2016
A: Kris,
The acid can be purchased at any local big box store. As for the unit being refilled, you will need to add distilled water as needed. You will not need to add acid again after the units 1st fill.
Q: What is the amp-hour rating of the Watchdog battery Model # 30HDC140S battery?
by Dean from Michigan on October 06, 2014
A: The Basement Watchdog Battery model 30HDC140S is not rated in amp hours. It is rated in Reserve Capacity at 182 min. @ 25 Amps. If you would compare this to a marine battery it would be around 700 cold cranking amps (CCA). by Jim, Product Expert
Q: I don't have a yellow cap for the sensor on my old battery and there was no special cap with the new battery. Do I use one of the regular black caps? by Karen R from Ohio on February 19, 2014
A: Please call Basement Watchdog tech support at 800-991-0466 and they will assist you in getting a replacement cap. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: Is it correct that Acid is sold separately? If so, how much would it be ? Should I order both the battery and acid in the same order? by Huy from New Jersey on November 18, 2012
A: We offer the this battery two ways. For convenience, we offer the KIT which also includes the acid. If you are looking to save a few bucks, you can order the BATTERY ONLY and purchase the acid locally. The battery acid usually be found at your local auto or big box store for about $20. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: Does this hook up to any pump? by Todd from Pennsylvania on October 25, 2012
A: The Basement Watchdog model 30HDC140S Is designed for use with the Basement Watchdog line of battery backup sump pump systems, including models BWE, BWSP & BWD12120C. This battery can also be used for just about any other battery backup sump system requiring a 12 volt deep cycle battery. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: I would like to purchase your battery and know that it needs acid. How can I purchase the acid for this battery? by Janet Terrana from New York on August 28, 2011
A: You should be able to purchase it locally at any auto parts or big box store for around $20. You do want to look for 6 quarts of 1.265 specific gravity battery acid. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: How much battery acid does the Model 30 Watchdog Battery take? Does it use "electrolyte" battery acid that can be found at industrial supply stores? Thanks. by Erick from Michigan on June 07, 2011
A: The Basement Watchdog model 30HDC140S battery will use 6 quarts of 1.265 specific gravity battery acid. You can normally find he acid at any big box store, auto parts store or anywhere that sells batteries. Please note that the battery will accept all 6 quarts. If you use all the acid, distributed evenly across the cells and the cells are still not full, let the battery sit for about 10-20 minutes and then fill with distilled water. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: Light on the panel is on indicate either Terminal is corroded or Defective Battery. please tell me where I can find the terminal and how to clean it, thanks. My battery model is 30HDC140S by Ken from Illinois on February 24, 2011
A: The terminals are the metal posts located on the top of the , where the wire connect to it. You'll have to unplug the unit and disconnect the battery
You can use baking soda, water and a tooth brush to clean the terminal. There's also a battery terminal brush tool you can buy at most auto parts stores. Steel Wool works too. by Jim, Product Expert
Q: If I buy a Basement Watchdog pump do I need a Basement Watchdog battery? by Karen from Illinois on January 03, 2011
A: You can use any deep cycle marine battery, as long as it is not maintenance-free. However, there are several advantages to using a Basement Watchdog battery. The Watchdog battery accommodates the system’s fluid sensor which will sound an alarm when the battery needs water…a very important feature, since a dry battery will not perform. In addition, Basement Watchdog batteries run longer per charge, and last years longer. A typical marine battery will last 2-4 years, while the Watchdog battery will last approximately 5-7 years. Basement Watchdog batteries are shipped dry (without acid) so they stay fresh on the shelf indefinitely, while wet batteries have a short shelf life.
Update 11/16/15: Basement Watchdog has changed this requirement around 2013 and their backup systems will now accept maintenance free batteries. Please refer to their updated installation manual for instructions on the proper method for this battery installation.
0% of respondents would recommend this product to a friend
13 Reviews
Sort by
Bill Shaumburg, IL
REVIEWED
SEP.
26
2011
Battery Is Garbage
This unit and battery are complete garbage. The controller failed during a power outage. Lucky for us we were home to run our generator or we would have had a flood. The repair cost me $70 (ouch!) also the battery failed 13 months after installation. Save your money and buy another brand!
Brand Rep
Bill,
We are sorry that you are not happy with this product. We would love it if you reached out to us for further assistance, since we would not charge a repair cost in your situation. It sounds like your unit was under warranty. Also we would like to know if you had the battery tested before replacing since we do not recommend that the battery is replaced until it is professionally tested by load.
A battery backup sump pump is only as good as its battery.
If the battery fails during a power outage, the system is useless. In fact, nearly 80 percent of failures are due to dead batteries.
The entire Basement Watchdog system was designed around its unique battery.
Maintenance-free batteries sound appealing, but they lose power with age. If it sits in a warehouse or store shelf too long, the battery will be weak or dead when you buy it.
The Basement Watchdog battery, however, is shipped dry. Yes, you have to add the battery acid (sold separately) and distilled water, but your battery is fresh from the first use.
Plus, the Basement Watchdog battery features a unique cap to measure the water level in the battery. In all other batteries, the water slowly evaporates, rendering it useless when you need it.
The Basement Watchdog, however, signals an alarm, alerting you to add some water. Basically, you'll know if the battery needs maintenance before your basement floods -- not after.
A battery backup sump pump is only as good as its battery.
If the battery fails during a power outage, the system is useless. In fact, nearly 80 percent of failures are due to dead batteries.
The entire Basement Watchdog system was designed around its unique battery.
Maintenance-free batteries sound appealing, but they lose power with age. If it sits in a warehouse or store shelf too long, the battery will be weak or dead when you buy it.
Batteries Are Over Priced And Never Last 5 To7 Years!!!!!!!
I bought this system as a back up to my 1/2 or 3/4 HP pumps that I run. I am in my house 10 years now and I am looking to have to go buy yet another batter.....this will make 3. This #3 is actually going to be the number 4 batter since it was originally installed, so that's....$450 or so spent on batteries not to mention the other cost each time of Acid. Tired of it, the pump is great, the battery for costing around $130 pisses me off. Wish I could move and not need to depend on an unreliable master component to this system aka the battery. Really stating 5 to 7 years I'm starting to feel like...False Advertizing. Maybe the watchdog, needs to watch itself on how this product is marketed. Not happy going broke to replace something every 3 years. A joke. Sign: Pissed Consumer!
I bought this system as a back up to my 1/2 or 3/4 HP pumps that I run. I am in my house 10 years now and I am looking to have to go buy yet another batter.....this will make 3. This #3 is actually going to be the number 4 batter since it was originally installed, so that's....$450 or so spent on batteries not to mention the other cost each time of Acid. Tired of it, the pump is great, the battery for costing around $130 pisses me off. Wish I could move and not need to depend on an... more
While I can certainly sympathize with you regarding the frequency in replacing your batteries, there are a few things that can determine the life of a battery.
#1 would be the maintenance of the battery. Since these are "Wet Cell" batteries, and they do require that the acid levels remain at a set level inside the battery, these levels must be maintained and whenever necessary, distilled water needs to be added to bring these levels to normal.
#2 would be the compatibility of these batteries to the battery backup sump pump system that you are connecting to. As you have not mentioned the actual brand and model of said battery backup sump pump system, you may be using the wrong battery for said system. Depending on the battery backup system, some will only work correctly with sealed maintenance free batteries and some will only work correctly with wet cell batteries. Some will work with either type of battery. In addition, IF you are connecting more than one battery to your backup system, some back up systems are NOT designed for this type of installation.
#3 could be due the number of cycles your pump is running. If this pump does experience a higher number of cycles than normal, this could be a reason for the shorter battery life you are experiencing.
My recommendation would be to review these possibilities and contact the store that you purchased your batteries from if you feel that none of these pertain to your issue. You might also try contacting Basement Watchdog tech support at 800-991-0466 for further assistance.
Jim has stated everything really well. Please contact us directly for further assistance. We are always willing and ready to assist our customers. You can contact us at 800.991.0466 Ext 3 for Tech support. Please note that before replacing any battery we do recommend you contact us for testing specifications to confirm that the battery is indeed defective.
I purchased the Watchdog system due to power outages in our area and wanted to have a 2nd sump pump to backup the 1st. About every 45 days it required water and the usage was in my opinion too much. Little over the 1 year warranty mark, it quit charging and the alarms were going. The connections from the charger to the battery had completely disintegrated! So I call Watchdog and they send another connector ( and it was just as cheesy as the original ) and I hooked it up. Still, no charge. The system said the battery was bad! Another $200.00 for a replacement battery? I don't think so. These batteries should be sealed and give you a longer life cycle than 1 year.
On a positive note, the pump does work and work well... Just needs a better battery.
I purchased the Watchdog system due to power outages in our area and wanted to have a 2nd sump pump to backup the 1st. About every 45 days it required water and the usage was in my opinion too much. Little over the 1 year warranty mark, it quit charging and the alarms were going. The connections from the charger to the battery had completely disintegrated! So I call Watchdog and they send another connector ( and it was just as cheesy as the original ) and I hooked it up. Still, no charge. The... more
Pros:Easy To Use
Cons:Low Quality, Heavy, Unreliable, Durability
Carasdude Does Not Recommend This Product
Brand Rep
Carasdude,
We are very sorry about your experience with the battery. We would like you to know that we do recommend that the battery be tested professionally before replacing. As for the connectors, corrosion is a natural occurrence in moist conditions. If the connectors were replaced and you are still having the same problems with a good battery, the wiring for the connections should be examined to confirm that no corrosion is present. This may be the cause as to why the system is alerting you that the battery is bad if it is not able to read the battery correctly due to corrosion. Please give us a call directly, we would love to help you. You can reach us at 800-991-0466 Ext. 3 for a technical support assistant.
I just got this system installed a week ago Monday, October 29, 2012 (actually 2:15 AM October 30) I just completed the install and got it plugged in no more than 10 seconds before the power went out. It immediately went to battery operation and worked fine.
I was surprised that it worked showing the battery as fully charged, as I had just put the acid in the battery about 15 minutes before completing the hook up. I purchased the acid from a big box store which was the least expensive source. The acid price varied widely. The big box version comes in a plastic bag with a tube to feed it into the openings in the battery. The bag contains the same as 6 bottles from other sources.
I thought this would have to go through a charge cycle before it would work as back-up power, but apparently not since it worked as soon as it was connected. The power was out until 12 PM the next day.
I left the pump system working on battery until about 8 AM, when I hooked up my generator to power the key areas of the house. I do not know the long-term reliability as it has only been installed for a week; and that includes a new main Watchdog pump. I installed the back-up pipe to feed into the main pump pipe and used two anti-back-up valves.
I just got this system installed a week ago Monday, October 29, 2012 (actually 2:15 AM October 30) I just completed the install and got it plugged in no more than 10 seconds before the power went out. It immediately went to battery operation and worked fine.
I was surprised that it worked showing the battery as fully charged, as I had just put the acid in the battery about 15 minutes before completing the hook up. I purchased the acid from a big box store which was the least expensive... more
Brand Rep
Terry,
Thank you so much for your recommendations and trust in our company and product. We are happy that we were able to assist you immediately when you most needed it. We know that you will be satisfied with the future use of the product.
I just installed the Basement Watchdog sump pump unit prior to hurricane Irene and thankfully I only had a small amount of water in my sump pump well.
The following week my area in PA got another 7" of rain from the tropical storm Lee and again the pump only turned on a few times to empty the sump pump well.
I am not able to provide any long term use report, but I am very happy with this unit. It is well made and it was easy to install and I am glad that I got the battery backup unit and the optional battery. It certainly gives me peace of mind that I will be able to run the 12 volt pump in the event of a power failure.
This system is more practical than the 120 volt pump it replaced as it was a big hassle to run the pump off of a generator after a power failure.
As it turned out, I was out of town visiting family when my area got about 4" of rain from tropical storm Lee and from what I can tell the unit did not run, but we got an additional 3" of rain while I was home and the sump pump well did fill up with water a few times.
I can highly recommend this unit and the technical support that I used before my purchase was first class and very helpful, they even returned my call within an hour.
I just installed the Basement Watchdog sump pump unit prior to hurricane Irene and thankfully I only had a small amount of water in my sump pump well.
The following week my area in PA got another 7" of rain from the tropical storm Lee and again the pump only turned on a few times to empty the sump pump well.
I am not able to provide any long term use report, but I am very happy with this unit. It is well made and it was easy to install and I am glad that I got the battery backup... more
Brand Rep
Mark,
Thank you so much for your review. Also thank you for highlighting the fact that we stand behind our customers as well as behind our products. We are always willing and ready to help with whatever we can. We appreciate your feedback.
Item received on time as promised. Wish that Sump Pumps Direct had actually packaged before shipping rather than simply sending in the retail box. It got a little banged up in transit
Also, wish that Basement Watchdog would offer a maintenance free battery. Who wants to deal with battery acid as well as disposing the unused remaining. Yuck
Overall a good experience with Sump Pumps Direct.
Brand Rep
Abdullah,
Thank you for your review. We will definitely take your suggestion into consideration.
I purchased the Basement Watchdog BW4000 (primary and backup combo) and installed it myself. The installation video is very helpful (aside from the really annoying music), but chances are your installation will not go as smoothly. I have a radon vent fit into my sump and that complicated installation (not accounted for in the installation video). If you have basic plumbing skills you'll be ok, but even if you don't have a radon vent in your sump, don't kid yourself - installation will take longer that what the video says.
I purchased the Basement Watchdog BW4000 (primary and backup combo) and installed it myself. The installation video is very helpful (aside from the really annoying music), but chances are your installation will not go as smoothly. I have a radon vent fit into my sump and that complicated installation (not accounted for in the installation video). If you have basic plumbing skills you'll be ok, but even if you don't have a radon vent in your sump, don't kid yourself - installation will take... more
Brand Rep
Matthew,
Thank you for your review and your recommendations to watch the videos that we provide. If anyone reading this is wanting to view this, the direct link is posted below. Installation Videos
I'm on my 3rd battery in 6 years. Seems they go bad just out if warranty. Followed the maintenance- still junk. Find a different brand battery. Read online in numerous places that this is a common problem. Junk
Joe Does Not Recommend This Product
Brand Rep
Joe,
We are sorry that you are experiencing difficulties. Normally these batteries should be lasting an average of 5 years with proper maintenance. We would love to help and find out what may be causing the problem. Please give us a call directly at 800.991.0466 ext3 for tech support. M-F 9-5 CST
These batteries may last a year or two. I followed the maintenance as instructed and am disappointed big time.
Tim Does Not Recommend This Product
Brand Rep
Tim,
We are sorry that you are not happy with the life of the battery. When maintenance procedures are followed usually they last longer than this. Please give our customer support a call so that we can assist you on this matter at 800.991.0466 Ext 3 for tech support M-F 9-5 CST.
Product Manual
