- Minimum for a 1/3 HP pump: 1,500W continuous and 3,000W+ surge; for a 1/2 HP pump: 2,000W continuous and 4,500W+ surge; eco-mode must be able to be disabled
- EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is the top pick for 1/2 HP pumps - its 4,800W surge clears our 4,500W minimum
- EcoFlow Delta 3 (3,600W surge) handles most 1/3 HP pumps at a lower price point
- Eco-mode must be disabled or the station shuts off between pump cycles
- Set up in permanent UPS pass-through mode - not as an emergency device you connect during storms
The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is the top pick for sump pump backup - 4,800W surge, 2,048Wh, eco-mode disableable, and EPS (UPS) switchover in under 30ms. For a 1/3 HP pump the EcoFlow Delta 3 (3,600W surge) handles the load at lower cost. Both require eco-mode disabled and UPS mode enabled, and both are fast enough for most devices but not a true zero-transfer UPS, so test your pump first.
How We Ranked These
Three criteria, in order of importance:
- Surge rating - must clear 3,000W for 1/3 HP pumps and 4,500W for 1/2 HP (the pump's estimated starting watts plus at least 25%)
- Eco-mode can be fully disabled - must stay on during idle periods between pump cycles
- Pure sine wave inverter - all recommended units qualify; this eliminated some budget options
Capacity and price came after these three. A cheap station with inadequate surge is worthless for this application.
The Delta 2 Max is our top pick for homes with a 1/2 HP submersible pump. Its 4,800W surge rating clears our 4,500W minimum for the 1/2 HP startup spike. At 2,048Wh (about 1,740Wh usable) it covers roughly 16 hours with a 1/2 HP pump running 5 minutes an hour (about 20 hours with a 1/3 HP pump), or about 7 hours in heavy inflow, including inverter idle draw; add up to two extra batteries (6,144Wh total) for longer storms. Eco-mode is fully disabled in the app. Its EPS switches over in under 30ms, fast enough for most devices, but it is not a true zero-transfer UPS, so test your pump first.
For homes with a standard 1/3 HP sump pump, the Delta 3 (the US successor to the Delta 2) handles the job at a meaningfully lower price than the Max. Its 3,600W surge rating clears our 3,000W minimum for a 1/3 HP pump, but not the 4,500W we want for 1/2 HP. The bigger difference is capacity: 1,024Wh vs 2,048Wh, which translates to roughly 10 hours vs 20 hours of pump backup at 5 minutes of pumping an hour, including idle draw. Add an extra battery or a 12V DC backup pump if your outages run longer. EPS switches over in under 30ms, fast enough for most devices, but it is not a true zero-transfer UPS, so test your pump first, and eco-mode can be fully disabled in the app.
The Explorer 1000 Plus qualifies for sump pump use with its 4,000W surge rating and reliable eco-mode control through the Jackery app. It's the entry point for Jackery users who want sump pump coverage. Note the 4,000W surge is below the Delta 2 Max's 4,800W and below our 4,500W minimum for 1/2 HP - it handles standard 1/3 HP pumps comfortably but is not our pick for older or higher-HP pumps with aggressive startup characteristics. When in doubt, choose the Delta 2 Max for more surge headroom.
Setup Instructions
Plug the power station into the wall. Plug the sump pump into the power station. Enable pass-through charging mode. Disable eco-mode. Done. The station now sits transparently between the grid and the pump - when power fails, EcoFlow units switch over in under 30ms, fast enough for most devices, but it is not a true zero-transfer UPS, so test your pump first.
Do not store the power station in a closet and plan to deploy it during a storm. By the time you realize the power is out and the basement is filling, it's often too late to set it up properly. The permanent installation is the only reliable setup.
Complete Your Setup
The add-ons most people wish they'd bought at the same time. Honest picks, matched to this setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best portable power station for a sump pump?
The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is the top recommendation for 1/2 HP pumps - 4,800W surge, 2,048Wh capacity, eco-mode fully disableable, and EPS switchover in under 30ms. For 1/3 HP pumps the EcoFlow Delta 3 (3,600W surge, 1,024Wh) handles the job at a lower price. The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus covers most 1/3 HP pumps with a 4,000W surge rating.
How much capacity do I need for sump pump backup?
A 1/3 HP sump pump runs at about 800W. If it runs about 5 minutes an hour (about 67W average) plus about 20W of inverter idle draw, a 1,024Wh station (about 870Wh usable) lasts roughly 10 hours and a 2,048Wh station roughly 20 hours. In heavy inflow (15 minutes an hour) those drop to about 4 and 8 hours. For storms expected to last multiple days, add expansion batteries and a 12V DC backup pump, and do not count on solar during the storm itself.
Does the EcoFlow Delta 2 work for sump pump backup?
The Delta 2 has been replaced by the Delta 3 in the US. Its rated surge was 2,700W, which is below our 3,000W minimum for a 1/3 HP pump (these pumps can need up to about 2,400W to start), so test your pump before relying on a Delta 2 you already own. Eco-mode can be disabled in the EcoFlow app. Its EPS switches over in under 30ms, fast enough for most devices, but it is not a true zero-transfer UPS, so test your pump first.
How long will a power station run a sump pump?
A standard 1/3 HP sump pump draws approximately 800W running and cycles on for 1-3 minutes every 15-30 minutes in moderate conditions. That works out to about 25-160W for the pump plus about 20W of inverter idle draw, or roughly 50-180W in total, so a 1,000Wh station (about 850Wh usable) lasts roughly 5-18 hours depending on how frequently the pit fills.