Can a power station run a sump pump?
A 1,000 Wh power station runs a typical sump pump for about 5.7 hours. It averages about 150 W, draws 800 W while running and needs about 1,500 W for a moment when it starts.
A 1/3 to 1/2 hp sump pump runs at 800–1,000 W with a start-up spike near double; how long it runs depends on how often it cycles.
How long by battery size?
| Battery | Runs a sump pump for |
|---|---|
| 300 Wh | about 1.7 hours |
| 600 Wh | about 3.4 hours |
| 1,000 Wh | about 5.7 hours |
| 2,000 Wh | about 11 hours |
| 3,600 Wh | about 20 hours |
Hours = battery Wh × 0.85 (inverter losses) ÷ 150 W average draw.
How long on each model?
| Power station | Battery | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow River 3 Plus | 286 Wh | can’t start it |
| Jackery Explorer 300 v2 | 288 Wh | can’t start it |
| Jackery Explorer 600 v2 | 640 Wh | can’t start it |
| EcoFlow River 2 Pro | 768 Wh | about 4.4 hours |
| Anker SOLIX C800 Plus | 768 Wh | about 4.4 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | 1,024 Wh | about 5.8 hours |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 | 1,056 Wh | about 6 hours |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | about 6.1 hours |
| Bluetti AC180 | 1,152 Wh | about 6.5 hours |
| ALLPOWERS R1500 | 1,152 Wh | about 6.5 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max | 2,048 Wh | about 12 hours |
| Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 | 2,048 Wh | about 12 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro | 3,600 Wh | about 20 hours |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 | 3,840 Wh | about 22 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | 4,096 Wh | about 23 hours |
Would a generator be better?
The smallest generator in our comparison that can start a sump pump on its own is the Honda EU2200i (1,800 W running, 2,200 W starting). A generator suits long outages and heavy loads; a power station is silent and safe indoors. Size a generator for this.
Running more than just this? Add everything you need and get the exact size, with matched models.
Size my setupMore questions
How long will a 500 Wh power station run a sump pump?
About 2.8 hours, at an average draw of 150 W.
How long will a 2,000 Wh power station run a sump pump?
About 11 hours.
What size power station do I need to run a sump pump for 24 hours?
About 4,659 Wh with our 10% margin; none of the models in our comparison covers a full day, so a generator is the realistic route.
How many watts does a sump pump use?
About 800 W while running, about 150 W on average over time, and about 1,500 W for a moment when it starts.
What is the smallest power station that can start a sump pump?
In our comparison, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro: 800 W output and 1,600 W surge.
Can solar keep a sump pump running?
Partly: our planning figure of 700 Wh of solar on a good day covers about 4 hours of a sump pump.
Would a generator be better for a sump pump?
Often yes: a day of it needs more than about 4,200 Wh, where a generator is the cheaper route. The smallest one in our comparison that starts it is the Honda EU2200i (1,800 W running). Never run a generator indoors.
