Basement Watchdog Special User Manual

Battery Backup

Sump Pump

System

Instruction Manual

& Safety Warnings

Table of Contents

Important Safety Warnings and
Instructions

Electrical Precautions 1
Battery Preparation 1
Battery Precautions 1

Introduction

Items Included in System 2
Additional Items Needed 2
System Specifications 2
Replacement Parts List 2

Pump & Pipe
Installation Instructions

Installation Options 3
Direct Discharge to Outside 4
Connection to Existing Discharge 5
Direct Discharge for Narrow Sumps 6
Connection to Existing Discharge for
Narrow Sumps 7

Battery Instructions

Preparation of the Battery 8,9

Understanding the Warning
Lights and Alarms

Silencing the Alarm
During an Emergency 11
Battery Alarm 11
Cleaning Battery Terminals 11,12
Replacing the Battery 12
Fuse Alarm 13
Water Alarm 13
Pump Alarm 14
Replacing the Pump 14
Power Alarm 15
Charging 15
System Operating 15

Testing the System

Test-Reset-Silence Button 15
Testing the Float Switch 15

Parts & Service Information

Technical Support 15

Troubleshooting Guide 16

This manual is for the systems that have
the BWSP-A backup controller, which
can accommodate maintenance or
maintenance free batteries. See pages
2 and 8 for additional information.

Control Unit Connections

Positioning the Float Switch 9
Connecting the Pump 9
Installing the Battery Fluid Sensor 10
Connecting the Battery 10
Connecting the Charger 10

IMPORTANT: Even if you have the Basement Watchdog Special
Backup Sump Pump System installed by someone else, you must read
and follow the safety information contained in this manual. Failure
to do so could result in property damage, serious injury, or death.

Warranty 17

Other Products 18

Important Safety
Warnings & Instructions

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. This manual

contains important SAFETY WARNINGS and
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS for the Basement
Watchdog Special battery backup sump pump
system. You will need to refer to it before
attempting any installation or maintenance.
ALWAYS keep these instructions with the unit so
that they will be easily accessible.

Failure to read and follow these warnings and
instructions could result in property damage,
serious injury, or death. It is important to read
this manual, even if you did not install the
Basement Watchdog backup sump pump system,
since this manual contains safety information
regarding the use and maintenance of this
product. DO NOT DISCARD THIS MANUAL.

ELECTRICAL PRECAUTIONS

DANGER

!

Risk of electrical and fire hazard. May result
in death, serious injury, shock or burns.

To help reduce these risks, observe the
following precautions:

• DO NOT walk on wet areas of the basement

until all power has been turned off. If the
main power supply is in a wet basement, call
an electrician.

• NEVER handle the control unit with wet hands

or while standing on a wet surface.

• ALWAYS unplug the control unit and

disconnect the cables from the battery before
attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

• ALWAYS unplug the main pump when

installing or servicing the backup pump or
float switch to avoid electric shock.

• DO NOT expose the control unit to rain or

snow.

• DO NOT pull the cord when disconnecting the

control unit. Pull the plug.

• DO NOT use an extension cord unless

absolutely necessary. If an extension cord
must be used, be sure the plug has the same
configuration as the plug on the control unit.

• DO NOT use an attachment not recommended

or sold by the manufacturer. It may result in
a risk of fire or injury from an electrical shock.

• DO NOT operate the control unit if it has

received a sharp blow, been dropped, or
otherwise damaged in any way.

• DO NOT disassemble the control unit.

• DO protect the electrical cord from sharp

objects, hot surfaces, oil and chemicals. Avoid
kinking the cord.

• MAKE SURE the supply circuit has a fuse or

circuit breaker rated to handle the power
requirements of this system.

When service is required, contact Glentronics
technical support at 800-991-0466, option #3,
or send an e-mail to [e-mail].
Return the control unit to the manufacturer for
any repairs at the following address:

Glentronics, Inc.

645 Heathrow Drive

Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4205

BATTERY PREPARATION

WARNING / POISON

!

Sulfuric acid can cause blindness or severe
burns. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or
clothing. In the event of an accident, flush
with water and call a physician immediately.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

To help reduce these risks, observe the
following precautions:

• Someone should be within range of your voice
or close enough to come to your aid when you
work near a lead-acid battery.

• Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in
case battery acid contacts skin, clothing or eyes.

• Wear eye and clothing protection and avoid
touching your eyes while working with battery
acid or working near the battery.

• If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash
immediately with soap and water. If acid
enters eye, immediately flood eye with
running cold water for at least 15 minutes and
get prompt medical attention.

• Battery posts and terminals contain lead and
lead compounds, chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.

BATTERY PRECAUTIONS

DANGER

!

Explosive gases could cause serious injury or
death. Cigarettes, flames or sparks could
cause battery to explode in enclosed spaces.
Charge in a well-ventilated area. Always
shield eyes and face from battery. Keep vent
caps tight and level.

To help reduce these risks, observe the
following precautions:

• NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the
vicinity of the battery.

• Use the Basement Watchdog control unit for
charging a LEAD-ACID battery only. DO NOT
use the control unit for charging dry-cell
batteries that are most commonly used with
home appliances.

• Be sure the area around the battery is well­ventilated.

• When cleaning or adding water to the battery,
first fan the top of the battery with a piece of
cardboard (or another non-metallic
to blow away any hydrogen or oxygen gas that
may have been emitted from the battery.

• DO NOT drop a metal tool onto the battery. It
might spark or short-circuit the battery and
cause an explosion.

• Remove personal metal items such as rings,
bracelets, watches, etc. when working with a
lead-acid battery. A short circuit through one
of these items can melt it, causing a severe
burn.

material)

POSITIVE POST HAS
LARGER DIAMETER

• ALWAYS remove the charger from the electrical

outlet before connecting or disconnecting the
battery cables. Check the polarity of the
battery posts. The POSITIVE (+) battery post
usually has a larger diameter than the
NEGATIVE (-) post.

POSITIVE

POST

• When connecting the battery cables, first
connect the small ring on the end of the
BLACK wire to the NEGATIVE (-) post of the
battery, and then connect the large ring on the
end of the RED wire to the POSITIVE (+) post
of the battery.

Do not use this system to pump flammable
or explosive fluids such as gasoline, fuel oil,
kerosene, etc.

NEGATIVE POST HAS
SMALLER DIAMETER

DANGER

!

NEGATIVE

POST

Page 1

Introduction

The Basement Watchdog Special backup sump
pump system is battery-operated. It is designed
as an emergency backup system to support your
main AC sump pump, and it will automatically
begin pumping any time the float switch is
activated by rising water. Should any
malfunction or emergency occur that involves
the sump pump, the battery, or the AC power,
the Basement Watchdog system will sound an
alarm. A light on the display panel of the
control unit will indicate the cause of the alarm
and the corrective action.

For added reliability, the float switch has, not
one, but two floats. Should one float fail to
operate, the second float automatically activates
the pump.

The Basement Watchdog Special Sump Pump
System includes:

• A control unit with a dual float switch, a
battery fluid level sensor, battery cables, and a
20 amp fuse

• A pump with a 1½” PVC pipe adapter

• A plastic wire tie for mounting the float switch

• A battery box

• A battery charger

• A battery cap with a hole to accommodate the
fluid sensor

You will also need to supply:

• A Basement Watchdog 7.5 Hour Standby
Battery*

DO NOT use an automotive battery with this
system

DO NOT use a Basement Watchdog Emergency
battery with this system. It will not run the
pump as long as the 7.5 hour battery

• 1½” rigid PVC pipe and fittings

• PVC primer and cement

• A union with hose clamps or a “Y” connector
and two (2) check valves, depending on the
installation method you use

• A surge protector (recommended)

• Six (6) quarts of 1.265 specific gravity battery
acid

Control Unit

Float
Switch

Wire Tie

*Basement Watchdog standby batteries are

specifically designed to work with your
battery backup sump pump system.
Glentronics can not guarantee the
compatibility of other brands of batteries. For
optimal performance the use of a Basement
Watchdog standby battery is recommended.

Battery

Box

Pump

Pipe

Charger

For narrow sump pits you will need some
additional parts:

• An “L” bracket at least six (6) inches long
(preferably one that will not rust)

• Two (2) stainless steel hose clamps

• One (1) stainless steel screw (#8-32 x 3/4”), a
matching washer & nut

Adapter

Cap

Battery
Wires

Fluid Sensor

Use of a Basement
Watchdog Klunkless
Check Valve™ will
provide quieter
operation. (See
page 18 for more
information.)

Replacement Part Numbers

Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1011002

Float switch assembly . . . . . . . . . . . .1020009

Fluid sensor assembly . . . . . . . . . . . .1014001

Pipe adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1120002

Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1015001

Battery box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1113003

Battery cap with hole . . . . . . . . . . . .1125000

Call 800-991-0466, option #3 to order parts.

System Specifications

Power supply requirements . . . . . .115 volts AC

Pumping capacity . . . . . . . . . .2500 GPH @ 0’

Pumping capacity . . . . . . . . .1730 GPH @ 10'

Pump dimensions w/elbow . . . . . .7

Pump housing & strainer . . . . . .non-corrosive,

Pump . . .can run dry for short periods of time;

can be used in sumps with water softener

Float switch . . . . . . . . . .independent, can be

5

⁄8” H x 9”W

will not rust

set at any level

Page 2

Pump & Pipe

PUMP
WIRE

PIPE

ADAPTER

FLOOR
JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

RIGID

1

-1/2"

PVC PIPE

C

HECK

VALV E

1/8" HOLE

45º ELBOW

"Y" CONNECTOR

CHECK
VALV E

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

DRAIN TILE

SLOPE

PIPE

D

OWN

PUMP WIRE

HOSE CLAMPS

PIPE ADAPTER

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

"L" BRACKET

FLOOR
JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

RIGID

1-1/2"

PVC PIPE

CHECK
VALV E

RIGID

1-1/2"

PVC PIPE

45º ELBOW

"Y"

CONNECTOR

CHECK
VALV E

1/8" HOLE

DRAIN TILE

SLOPE

PIPE

DOWN

PUMP
WIRE

PIPE ADAPTER

DRILL 1/8" HOLE

IF CHECK

VALVE USED

FLOOR
JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

RIGID

1

-1/2"

PVC PIPE

UNION

OR CHECK

VALV E

CHECK
VALV E

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

DRAIN TILE

SLOPE
PIPES
D

OWN

PUMP WIRE

CHECK
VALV E

HOSE
CLAMPS

"L" BRACKET

FLOOR

JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

SLOPE
PIPES
DOWN

RIGID
1-1/2"

PVC PIPE

UNION

OR CHECK

VALV E

PIPE ADAPTER

DRILL 1/8" HOLE

IF CHECK

VALVE USED

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

DRAIN TILE

Installation Instructions

There are two basic methods that can be used to
install the pump, a direct discharge to the
outside of the building, or a connection to an
existing discharge pipe. The same two options
apply in very narrow sump pits where the backup
pump must be mounted above the main pump.

Whenever possible, install your Basement
Watchdog backup pump with a direct discharge
to the outdoors. By using this method, there will
always be an outlet for the water from the sump.
During times of very heavy rain, many storm
sewers fill up. If your pump is trying to
discharge water into a full sewer, there is
nowhere for the water to go. By discharging
directly outdoors, there is always an outlet for
the water that is pumped out of the sump. For
this method, you will need to drill a hole through
a floor joist or the foundation from the basement
to the outside of the house.

If the direct discharge method is not possible or
convenient, the Basement Watchdog pump can
be connected to the same line as your main AC
sump pump by installing a “Y” connector and
two (2) check valves.

NORMAL SUMP PIT

INSTALLATIONS

Installation A

Direct Discharge

to Outside

Page 4

NARROW SUMP PIT

INSTALLATIONS

Installation B
Hookup to
Existing
Discharge Pipe
Page 5

In most cases, the backup pump will fit next to
the main AC pump in the sump pit. In very
narrow pits, the backup pump can be mounted
above the main AC pump. Try to fit the backup
pump on the floor of the sump first. Make sure
there is enough room so that the backup pump
and the main pump do not touch each other.

Select the installation method that will best suit
your needs from the diagrams at the right. Full
instructions for each installation method are
provided on the following pages.

Installation will take a couple hours.

Page 3

Installation C

Direct Discharge

to Outside

Page 6

Installation D
Hookup to
Existing
Discharge Pipe
Page 7

Pump & Pipe

PUMP
WIRE

PIPE ADAPTER

DRILL 1/8" HOLE

IF CHECK

VALVE USED

FLOOR

JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

RIGID

1-1/2"

PVC PIPE

UNION

OR CHECK

VALVE

CHECK
VALVE

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

DRAIN TILE

SLOPE
PIPES
DOWN

Installation Instructions

INSTALLATION A:
DIRECT DISCHARGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE
BUILDING (Diagram A)

DANGER

!

Unplug the main AC pump when installing
the backup pump to avoid electric shock.
Failure to do so could cause serious injury
or death.

1. Cut a piece of 1½” rigid PVC pipe long
enough to reach from the bottom of the
sump pit to one (1) foot above the floor.
Prime and cement it to the 1½” pipe adapter,
then screw the adapter into the pump.

2. Secure the pump wire so that the plug on the
end will not fall into the sump. Attach the
wire to the pipe with a piece of tape.

3. Place the pump with the PVC pipe attachment
on the bottom of the sump floor next to the
main AC pump. The pumps should not touch
each other. Do not mount the pump to any

existing pipes; it should be placed on the
floor of the sump. A brick may be placed
under the pump if there are rocks or other
debris on the sump floor that may clog the
pump.

4. Attach a union or a check valve to the top of
the 1½” pipe. This will allow the pump to be
removed easily, should the need arise.

The path of the rest of the pipe and the details
of each installation will vary. Using sound
plumbing practices, route the discharge pipe to
an exterior wall via the shortest path with the
fewest turns. More turns will reduce the
pumping capacity. The pipe section exiting the
building should be on a downward slope so that
the water in the pipe will exit outside instead of
returning to the sump pit. Be sure to seal the
hole in the wall where the pipe exits, and prime
and cement or clamp all connections securely to
prevent leaking. (No check valve is needed with
this method of installation as long as you use
less than 20 feet

If you use more than a total of 20 feet
pipe in the installation (including vertical

of pipe.)

CAUTION

and horizontal runs), install a check valve in
place of the union. Make sure it is installed
with the arrow pointing up, or it will not
prevent the backflow of water. When a check
valve is used, a 1/8” hole must be drilled in
the PVC pipe above the Basement Watchdog
pump. Drill the hole at a 45° angle toward
the bottom of the sump to avoid splashing
water outside the sump pit. Make sure the
hole is above the water line and below the
check valve. If a hole is not drilled above the
pump, an air lock may prevent the pump
from operating.

of

1

2

3

4

Diagram A

Page 4

Pump & Pipe

PUMP
WIRE

PIPE

ADAPTER

FLOOR

JOIST

MAIN
AC PUMP

RIGID

1-1/2"

PVC PIPE

CHECK
VALVE

1/8" HOLE

45º ELBOW

"Y" CONNECTOR

CHECK
VALVE

BASEMENT

WATCHDOG

PUMP

DRAIN TILE

SLOPE

PIPE

DOWN

Installation Instructions

INSTALLATION B:
CONNECTION TO AN EXISTING DISCHARGE PIPE
(Diagram B)

Depending on your installation requirements,
PVC pipe lengths will vary. Cut the pipes and
assemble them as shown in photo #7. Do not

cement them together until you are sure they are
cut to the correct lengths. It is important to keep

the discharge pipes on both pumps parallel to
each other, so that the pumps remain flat on the
floor of the sump. More detailed instructions
follow.

DANGER

!

Unplug the main AC pump when installing
the backup pump to avoid electric shock.
Failure to do so could cause serious injury or
death.

1. Cut a piece of 1½” rigid PVC pipe long enough
to reach from the bottom of the sump pit to
one (1) foot above the floor. Prime and
cement it to the 1½” pipe adapter, then screw
the adapter into the pump.

2. Install a check valve on the top of the PVC

3. When a check valve is used, a 1/8” hole

Page 5

pipe attached to the Basement Watchdog
pump. Make sure it is installed with the arrow
pointing up or it will not prevent the backflow
of water.

CAUTION

1

2

3

must be drilled in the PVC pipe above the
Basement Watchdog pump. Make sure it is
above the water line and below the check
valve. Drill the hole at a 45º angle toward
the bottom of the sump to avoid splashing
water outside the sump pit. If a 1/8” hole
is not drilled in the pipe above the pump,
an air lock may prevent the pump from
operating.

4. If there is no check valve on the discharge
pipe of the main AC pump, one must be
installed at this time. Cut the discharge pipe
approximately one (1) foot above the floor.
Install a check valve on the top of the pipe
and tighten the bottom hose clamp. Now
prime and cement a small piece of 1½” PVC
pipe to the bottom of a “Y” connector. Prime
and cement the top of the “Y” assembly to the
discharge pipe with the “Y” extension facing
down toward the backup pump. Now connect
the bottom of the assembly to the check valve
and tighten the hose clamp.

5. Secure the pump wire so that the plug on the
end will not fall into the sump. Attach the
wire to the pipe with a piece of tape.

6. Place the pump with the PVC pipe attachment
on the bottom of the sump floor next to the
main AC pump. The pumps should not touch
each other. Do not mount the pump to any
existing pipes; it should be placed on the
floor of the sump. A brick may be placed
under the pump if there are rocks or other
debris on the sump floor that may clog the
pump.

4

6

7

7. Connect a piece of 1½” PVC pipe above
the check valve of the Basement
Watchdog pump, and attach a 45°
elbow to that pipe. Extend another
piece of pipe to reach from the 45°
elbow to the “Y” connector on the
other pipe.

8. Prime and cement all pipe connections
securely to prevent leaking, and
tighten all the hose clamps.

5

Diagram B