Questions and Answers for Basement Watchdog Big Dog CONNECT 3500 GPH Submersible Battery Backup Sump Pump with Smart WiFi Capable Monitoring Controller and Charger

A:  This system will draw 2-3 AC amps if the battery is being charged and the backup pump is running while plugged into a power source that has electricity. For further information contact our service team at 800-991-0466 option 3. We're here to help from 9-5 Monday - Friday central time.

A:  The threaded discharge is 1 1/4" with a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 adapter for PVC pipe.

A:  The threaded discharge on this pump is 1 1/4" and it comes with a 1 1/2" adapter. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  We do not rate our backup pumps in HP but by how much water they pump. This pump can discharge 3500 gallons per hour at 0' head and 2200 gallons per hour at 10' head. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  The Big Dog Connect system comes with it's own separate battery backup (12 volt DC) pump that you would normally use in addition to your existing primary pump. Ideally you would want to have 2 pumps in there, your regular AC pump along with the battery backup pump which would be ready to take over in the event of a primary pump failure or power outage. For more information please contact our service team at 800-991-0466 option 3.

A:  Unless your current pump is operating on 12 VDC, you will need to replace it. In all probability what you have now is a standard pump which runs on 110 VAC.

A:  ALL Pumps were updated this Year. One 10 years old FLOOR. One five years old. One 7 years old back-up.

A:  The pump test only lasts a few seconds and these pumps can run dry for several minutes without being negatively affected. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  Since they listed it as a submersible pump I can't imagine that there isn't a water level sensor which would prohibit running the pump dry. Both of my units are in pits that always have water in them and the only time they get tested is when I do it manually. I would contact the company to find out definetly.

A:  Yes, if you hook them up in parallel. Battery 1 positive to Battery 2 positive to positive on the pump. Same thing on the negatives. Doing this should double your emergency pump time, but it will also increase the recharge time.

A:  This unit can utilize 2 batteries in a parallel connection (positive to positive - negative to negative) to increase pumping time in an outage as long as the batteries are the same model and same age (within 6 months). For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am - 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  Yes you can use two batteries. I've installed with 2 batteries connected. I purchased the Watchdog Parallel Battery cable to connect the 2 batteries.

A:  Basement Watchdog batteries are standby deep cycle batteries with a very high reserve capacity that can run the Basement Watchdog pumps continuously for hours or intermittently for days. The Basement Watchdog batteries will last longer and perform better than automotive or marine batteries.in a backup application.

A:  Yes you can use a deep discharge marine battery, but you will lose the ability to monitor the electrolyte level as there will not be a way to put the probe into a cell. The probe will have to be connected to the positive terminal to keep the alarm from sounding constantly..

A:  We always recommend the use of a Basement Watchdog battery. In the case of this unit, we recommend The Basement Watchdog Big Standby Battery (model 30HDC140S) or the Basement Watchdog Maintenance-Free AGM Battery (model BW-27AGM). However, as long as you have a 12V/DC battery with a group size of 27 or higher and an Amp hour rating of 75 or more, you can use it. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  Yes. The battery water level probe gets clamped to the positive battery post.

A:  It should be as long as you use the proper charger for a AGM type battery. A regular charger will probably ruin an AGM battery.

A:  Yes you can use it with an AGM battery, the battery water sensor will have to be attached to the positive terminal to bypass the monitoring circuit. However it is not a cost effective solution. AGM batteries cost 4 to 5 times more than lead acid batteries. Interesting to note, the basement watchdog systems are designed to be used with a Lead acid battery. The big dog system uses an advanced controller to maintain the battery, so most times it will not be in continuous charging, which means least amount of emission form the battery. How much hydrogen will the battery emit? One lead acid battery probably not enough to be of any concern. With an open flame nearby? Hydrogen like helium rises rapidly, so if the flame is closer to the floor, five feet away, it would probably not be an issue. I would add a fan in the room to ventilate the area where the charging system and battery are located. Alternatively, the wires from the controller to the battery which consist of positive, negative and battery water sensor can be extended to place the battery in another location further away from the open flame. Which is still a more economical solution than purchasing an AGM battery.

A:  Its my understanding that the Big Combo essentially uses the “Special”-grade DC only pump/controller whereas the BigDog is AC/DC pump/control unit with advanced electronics/monitoring capabilities including periodic self-test, etc.

A:  The 1/2 HP motor being more powerful can pump at a faster rate. Other than that I don't see any difference.

A:  This is strictly a battery backup system, designed to be used with an already in-place primary AC sump pump. The 1/2HP Big Combo system comes with an AC primary sump pump and a different model battery backup system. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.

A:  You need to connect Basement Watchdog Connect WiFi Module with this unit to receive remote notification.

A:  The Basement Watchdog system is not WiFi ready by itself. WiFi alerts require the "Basement Watchdog Connect WIFI Module" (online item# 301381269). The WiFi Module is connected to the Controller in the Basement Watchdog system. The WiFi Module is an additional cost, but is easy to set up and works well for sending automatic email alerts. Supposedly in the future it will be capable of sending text messages to your smart phone, but as of 4/2/2018 it cannot do that. Just a caution - you need to be sure you have battery backup for your home internet service or the WiFi alerts will not be able to go through in the event of a power outage.

A:  This system is compatible with our Basement Watchdog Connect WiFi Module (model BW-WIFI). You will need that module in order to receive remote notifications. The module is currently available. For more information, please contact our customer support team at 800-991-0466, option 3. We are available to take incoming calls from 9am – 5pm CT Monday through Friday.