Battery-powered backup power system for a sump pump installation

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, after which the pump discharges liquid from the container until a predetermined event terminates the test cycle;
• an indicator circuit which indicates in response to completion of the test cycle whether the test was successful or unsuccessful;
• 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.

An automated system for testing and monitoring a sump pump installation of the type operable from a supplied AC current and having a liquid container, a motor driven pump positioned within the container 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 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 therein to rise to at least the first predetermined level, after which the pump, if functioning, discharges liquid from the container until a predetermined event terminates the test cycle;
• an indicator circuit which, in the event of the pump is functional, indicates upon completion of the test cycle the occurrence of a successful test and in the event the pump is nonfunctional, the indicates in response to the liquid level in the container having continued to rise the occurrence of an unsuccessful pump test;
• 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.