Outage: running a sump pump through a storm

How long each portable power station can keep a 1/3 to 1/2 HP sump pump going when the power is out during heavy rain, and which ones can handle the pump's starting surge.

The loads

Scenario inputs, not measurements: the pump runs 6, 15 or 30 minutes in each hour of a 12-hour storm, plus two LED bulbs for the whole time. How often a pump cycles depends on the rain, the water table and the pit, so the table shows all three.

ApplianceWatts usedHours onEnergy
1 x Sump pump (1/3 HP to 1/2 HP) 1,200 W high end[1][2][3][4][5] varies (below) varies
2 x LED light bulb 8.8 W high end[6] 12 of 12 211 Wh

Everything on at once draws up to 1,218 W running, and 1,318 to 3,218 W for the moment a motor starts, using each appliance's highest sourced figure.

How each station does

Lasts = usable Wh / average load over the 12 hours. Usable Wh = battery Wh x efficiency.

Power stationBatteryRunningStartingLasts, pump on 6 min/hLasts, pump on 15 min/hLasts, pump on 30 min/h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 286 Wh[7] Over Overn/an/an/a
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 288 Wh[9] Over Surge not publishedn/an/an/a
Goal Zero Yeti 300 297 Wh[10] Over Overn/an/an/a
Goal Zero Yeti 500 499 Wh[12] Over Overn/an/an/a
DJI Power 500 512 Wh[13] Over Surge not publishedn/an/an/a
Goal Zero Yeti 700 677 Wh[15] Over Overn/an/an/a
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 (6th Gen) 998 Wh[16] OK OK6.1 h2.6 h1.3 h
DJI Power 1000 Mini 1,008 Wh[18] Over Surge not publishedn/an/an/a
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 1,024 Wh[20] OK Depends on model6.3 h2.7 h1.4 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 1,024 Wh[25] OK OK6.6 h2.9 h1.4 h
DJI Power 1000 1,024 Wh[26] OK OK6.3 h2.7 h1.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 1,024 Wh[27] OK OK6.3 h2.7 h1.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus 1,024 Wh[28] OK OK6.3 h2.7 h1.4 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 1,056 Wh[21] OK Depends on model6.5 h2.8 h1.4 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1,070 Wh[29] OK Depends on model6.6 h2.8 h1.4 h
BLUETTI AC180 1,152 Wh[30] OK Depends on model7.1 h3.0 h1.5 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus 1,264 Wh[32] OK OK7.8 h3.3 h1.7 h
Goal Zero Yeti 1500 (6th Gen) 1,505 Wh[33] OK OK9.2 h4.0 h2.0 h
Anker SOLIX F1500 1,536 Wh[34] OK Depends on model9.4 h4.1 h2.1 h
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra 1,536 Wh[35] OK OK9.4 h4.1 h2.1 h
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 1,536 Wh[36] OK OK9.4 h4.1 h2.1 h
Anker SOLIX S2000 2,010 Wh[22] OK Depends on model13 h (full 12 h)5.6 h2.9 h
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 2,042 Wh[37] OK OK12 h (full 12 h)5.4 h2.8 h
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 2,048 Wh[38] OK OK12 h (full 12 h)5.4 h2.8 h
DJI Power 2000 2,048 Wh[39] OK Surge not published12 h (full 12 h)5.4 h2.8 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max 2,048 Wh[41] OK OK12 h (full 12 h)5.4 h2.8 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus 2,048 Wh[42] OK OK12 h (full 12 h)5.4 h2.8 h
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 2,073.6 Wh[45] OK Surge not published12 h (full 12 h)5.5 h2.8 h
BLUETTI Apex 300 2,764.8 Wh[47] OK OK18 h (full 12 h)7.8 h4.0 h
BLUETTI Elite 300 3,014.4 Wh[49] OK Surge not published18 h (full 12 h)8.0 h4.1 h
Anker SOLIX F3000 3,072 Wh[50] OK OK18 h (full 12 h)8.2 h4.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra 3,072 Wh[51] OK OK18 h (full 12 h)8.2 h4.2 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 3,840 Wh[52] OK OK23 h (full 12 h)10 h5.2 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus 3,840 Wh[53] OK OK23 h (full 12 h)10 h5.2 h
BLUETTI Elite 400 3,840 Wh[55] OK Surge not published25 h (full 12 h)11 h5.7 h
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 3,994 Wh[56] OK OK24 h (full 12 h)10 h5.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 4,096 Wh[57] OK OK25 h (full 12 h)10 h5.6 h
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus 5,040 Wh[58] OK OK31 h (full 12 h)13 h (full 12 h)6.9 h

A sump pump is a harder load than a fridge. It draws several hundred watts while it runs and a much bigger burst when the motor starts, so a station needs both enough rated output and a surge rating above the pump's starting watts. A station that fails the surge check may trip every time the float switch kicks on, which is the worst moment for it to fail.

How long the battery lasts depends on how often the pump runs. In a light rain it may run a few minutes an hour; in a heavy storm with a high water table it can run half the time or more. We do not know your pit, so the table works the runtime out for three cases instead of guessing one. Pick the column closest to what you see in a normal storm.

For long storms, a bigger battery, a second battery, or a battery backup pump made for the job is worth a look. Check your pump's label for its horsepower and amps, and use the calculator to try your own numbers.

Runtime calculator

Runtime (hours) = battery Wh x inverter efficiency / load W

Efficiency is the share of battery energy that reaches the outlet. Where the maker does not publish it we use 0.85. Average W is for loads that cycle on and off, like a fridge; leave it blank to use running watts. Starting surge assumes one motor starts at a time. How the estimates work.

Sources

  1. Champion Power Equipment Wattage Reference Chart (help.championpowerequipment.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  2. Generac GP Series portable generator brochure, wattage reference chart (PDF), read Oct 22, 2026
  3. Zoeller Technical Data Sheet FM2778, Mighty-Mate Series Models 53, 57, 55, 59, read Oct 22, 2026
  4. Zoeller Technical Data Sheet FM2779, Flow-Mate Series Model 98, read Oct 22, 2026
  5. WAYNE sump pump owner's manual specifications, horsepower and amp ratings (CDU790, CDU800 and others), read Oct 22, 2026
  6. Philips 8.8-Watt A19 LED Bulb, 60-Watt Incandescent Equivalent, 800 lumens (Super Bright LEDs), read Oct 22, 2026
  7. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  8. BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  9. BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 User Manual (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  10. Goal Zero Yeti 300 product page and specifications (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  11. Goal Zero Yeti 300/500/700 120V User Guide REV E (PDF, goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  12. Goal Zero Yeti 500 product page and specifications (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  13. DJI Power 500 specs (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  14. DJI Power 500 on the DJI Store, US (store.dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  15. Goal Zero Yeti 700 product page and specifications (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  16. Goal Zero NEW Yeti 1000 product page and technical specs (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  17. Goal Zero Yeti 1000 and Yeti 1500 (6th Gen) User Guide REV C (PDF, goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  18. DJI Power 1000 Mini specs (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  19. DJI Power 1000 Mini product page (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  20. Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  21. Anker SOLIX C1000 product page comparison table (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  22. Anker SOLIX S2000 product page comparison table (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  23. BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  24. BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 launch page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  25. BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 User Manual (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  26. DJI Power 1000 specs (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  27. EcoFlow DELTA 3 product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  28. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  29. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 product page and Tech Specs (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  30. BLUETTI AC180 product page and specs (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  31. BLUETTI AC180 User Manual (PDF, bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  32. Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus product page and Tech Specs (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  33. Goal Zero NEW Yeti 1500 product page and technical specs (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  34. Anker SOLIX F1500 product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  35. Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra product page and Tech Specs (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  36. Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 product page (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  37. Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 product page and Tech Specs (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  38. Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  39. DJI Power 2000 specs (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  40. DJI Power 2000 product page (dji.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  41. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  42. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  43. BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  44. BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 landing page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  45. BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 User Manual V2.0 (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  46. BLUETTI Apex 300 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  47. BLUETTI Apex 300 User Manual (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  48. BLUETTI Elite 300 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  49. BLUETTI Elite 300 User Manual (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  50. Anker SOLIX F3000 product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  51. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  52. Anker SOLIX F3800 product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  53. Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus product page and specs (ankersolix.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  54. BLUETTI Elite 400 product page (bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  55. BLUETTI Elite 400 User Manual (PDF, linked from support.bluettipower.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  56. Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 product page and specifications (goalzero.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  57. EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 product page and specs (us.ecoflow.com), read Oct 22, 2026
  58. Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus product page and Tech Specs (jackery.com), read Oct 22, 2026