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MK Deep Cycle 12 Volt E27-SLD-G Backup Sump Pump Battery Review

Today we’re going to review the MK Deep Cycle 12 Volt E27-SLD-G backup sump battery. However, before we do, it’s worth quickly reviewing why you’d want one to begin with. To put it mildly, no sump pump is foolproof, and AC sump pumps, no mater how good, have one crucial dependence: alternating current (i.e., electricity).

Even if you’ve got the best sump pump on the market, it’s not going to pump an ounce of water if you lose power in the middle of a rain storm. And in our experience, this is when you’re most likely to lose power (especially if you have a finished basement and are out of town; it’s practically guaranteed at that point). As a result, you need a backup sump pump, whether DC-based or water-based.

The best DC sump pump is the Wayne WSM3300, while a cheaper but good alternative is the Wayne ESP25. However, whatever DC system you invest in will need–you guessed it–a DC power source (i.e., a battery). Just as not all batteries are equal when it comes to powering things as large as cars or as small as TV remotes, you also don’t want to take a gamble with a cheap sump pump backup battery; you’re literally putting everything in your basement at stake.

Fortunately, there are a number of good models out there that won’t cost an arm and a leg. Let’s look at the MK Deep Cycle 12 Volt E27-SLD-G backup sump battery and see how it works in a variety of DC backup sump pumps. If you’re ready to buy and just want to know if you can rely on it, then yes you can, and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the MK E27-SLD-G Battery (60 Second Summary)

The MK E27-SLD-G is a deep cycle battery suited for backup sump pump and marine applications. It has a nominal voltage of 12V and C/5, C/20, and C/100 capacities (e.g., the 5 hour, 20 hour, and 100 hour rates) of 72Ah, 88Ah, and 99Ah respectively. It weighs 63 pounds and is 12.83 inches long, 6.56 inches wide, and 9.3 inches tall including the size B (T876) terminals. It is self-sealing, rated as non-spillable, includes a lead calcium plate alloy and a sulfuric acid thixotropic gel electrolyte. The charge voltage at 77 degrees Fahrenheit spans 13.8-14.6 volts while the float voltage spans 13.4-14.6 volts. It is designed to be maintenance free (e.g., it does not require refills or level checks).

MK E27-SLD-G Compatibility with Various DC Backup and Combination Sump Pumps

We found the E27-SLD-G compatible with a range of DC backup and combination sump pumps. More generally, you can expect it to work with any device that needs a 12 volt power supply. So far, we’ve been able to confirm compatibility and functionality with the Wayne WSM3300,  Wayne ESP25, Wayne WSSM40V, Wayne ESP15, and Big Dog Basement Watchdog. We’ll continue to test it with a range of backup and combination sump pumps, but our notes from fellow plumbers and homeowners suggests it has a high range of compatibility with just about every current system on the market.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the MK E27-SLD-G Battery

MK claims an average lifespan of 7-8 years with a general life expectancy of 5-10 years; in comparison, they state regular deep cycle batteries are designed to last for 3 years or less. We’d agree with both of their assessments; a cheap deep cycle battery will typically die and require replacement within 1-3 years. Buying such a battery is a poor investment of time and money. From comparing notes with fellow plumbers and homeowners, we’d rate the average lifespan of an E27-SLD-G as between 6 and 9 years, which fits nicely within their broader predictions.

MK E27-SLD-G Battery Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

Overall, we’d rate the E27-SLD-G as a strong choice for DC backup and combination sump pump applications. It’s capable of delivering a good and consistent amount of power and we’re more than satisfied with its short and long term reliability. It’s not the cheapest deep cycle sump pump battery on the market, but we’ve been in business long enough to know that you’re not going to be patting yourself on the back for saving a hundred dollars when your sump pit is filling in the middle of a flash flood and your backup sump pump won’t start. Spend a bit more for quality gear that won’t let you down when you need it most. The E27-SLD-G is quality gear.

You can buy the MK E27-SLD-G battery here on Amazon. You can buy the Wayne WSM3300 DC smart sump pump here. You can buy the Wayne ESP25 DC sump pump here. You can buy the Wayne WSSM40V combination AC/DC sump pump system here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.

Wayne CDU1000 1HP Submersible Sump Pump Review and Zoeller M63, M98, and M267 Comparison

We always recommend spending a bit more than the $100-$150 prices you’ll find for budget box store sump pumps if you can help it. We’ve seen too many of these pumps fail after the six month to one year window (typically just after the warranties expire), and you don’t want to spend any more time in a sump pit (or pay a plumber to do so) than necessary. Rather than throwing good money after bad, we’re of the mind that it’s better for your time, money, and sanity to just get things done correctly the first time; there are a lot of sump pumps on the market that will give you years of service while keeping your basement dry.

If you’re looking for a sump pump to last for as long as you own your house, we always first recommend the Zoeller M267. It pumps water faster than any other AC sump pump under around $500 and it’s also one of the most reliable (we’ve seen models with 20 years of daily service still working). However, if you can’t spend the $300 necessary to bring one home, we’d recommend pumps like the Zoeller M63 or Zoeller M57 first (we struggle to recommend the Zoeller M98 due to reliability issues). Another good option, however, especially if you need high flow rates, is the Wayne CDU1000 Submersible Sump Pump. It’s the fastest sump pump under $200 that runs on AC power. We like it; read on to find out why.

Key Features of the Wayne CDU1000 Sump Pump (60 Second Summary)

The Wayne CDU1000 sump pump is an automatic submersible sump pump. It is powered by a 1 HP motor and can pump up to 5,400 gallons per hour and features a 5 year limited warranty. It is 14 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 14 inches deep. It can pump water at up to 22 feet vertically with switch-on/switch-off heights at 4 and 9 inches respectively. It features a vertical float switch and uses 9.8 amps and 120 volts; no battery backup is included. We weighed it at 22 pounds on our scale and it includes an 8 foot power cord. The max pump rate is 5,400 GPH at 0 feet but the discharge flow drops to 3,960 GPH at 10 feet, 2,940 GPH at 15 feet, and 1,560 GPH at 20 feet. It is designed to operate between 33 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, is self-priming, and is housed in stainless steel with a cast iron pump base. The sump pump outlet diameter is 1-1/2″ NPT discharge and is rated for installation in sump basins at least 11″ or larger.

How Does the Zoeller M63 Compare to the Zoeller M63, Zoeller M98, and Zoeller M267 Sump Pumps?

Compared to the Zoeller M98, the Wayne CDU1000 is by far the better pump simply because it’s far more reliable. Due to a batch of poorly designed M98s, there are a number of models that only last between 3 and 8 years; we’d expect the average CDU1000 to last between 5-9 years, and 5 of those years (unlike the 1 year warranty of the M98) are warrantied. The CDU1000 is additionally powered by a stronger motor (1HP vs 1/2HP) with a faster top flow rate (5,400 gallons per hour vs 4,320 gallons per hour).

Compared to the Zoeller M63, we’d recommend the M63 if reliability is a priority; we’d expect it to last between 10 and 17 years due to its more thorough construction (it’s fully housed in cast iron, including the impeller, and is capable of grinding through 1/2 inch solids). We’d recommend the CDU1000 if speed is a priority; the top flow rate is much faster at 5,400 GPH vs 2,580 GPH and the motor is far stronger at 1 HP vs .3 HP. However, given that the M63 is more likely to continue working through debris-filled or contaminated water, we’d urge caution in choosing speed over reliability.

Compared to the Zoeller M267, we’d pick the M267 every time. It’s far faster than the CDU1000 (7,680 GPH vs 5,400 GPH) and far more reliable due to, once again, higher tolerances for construction. The M267 is capable of processing up to 2 inch solids and we’d expect it to last for up to 20 years in the average single family home. If you’re looking for a sump pump you won’t need to replace once or twice during a lifetime of home ownership, the M267 is the pump you want.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Wayne CDU1000 Sump Pump

We found installation transparent and easy to complete, and would expect homeowners with limited experience to be able to successfully install it in an hour as long as the necessary connectors were present. As is typically the case with Wayne, the instruction manual was detailed but not necessarily tied to the CDU1000; you’ll want to use it as a reference more than as a word-for-word guide. We’d like the power cord to be a bit longer than 8 feet, but we were able to find outlets in most situations without resorting to extension cords.

We found noise levels quiet enough; once we were more than a few feet away from the CDU1000, it was essentially inaudible. We would still recommend installing a silent check valve (e.g., the  Brady check valve) over a regular one to get rid of the “thunk!” accompanying standard hammer check valves. Without a silent check valve, the action of the valve will be the most noticeable part of your sump pump’s on/off cycle, and if you have a high water table, you’ll get tired of hearing it start and shut off over and over again.

Our long term feedback for the CDU1000 has been largely positive; as noted, we’d expect up to 9 years of service from it. It’s not as long as what we’d expect from the M63 or M267, however, so if you’re looking for more than a decade of service, we’d suggest one of the former pumps.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Wayne CDU1000 Working Sooner

Once you’ve got your CDU1000 installed successfully, the first thing we recommend doing is installing a backup sump pump. It doesn’t matter if you use a water-based backup or a DC backup, but you want to have some method of forcing water out of your sump pit (and not allowing it to flood your basement) when you lose power during a period of heavy rain. If you’ve got a large budget, there isn’t a better DC backup sump pump than the Wayne WSM3300. However, if you’re on a smaller budget, the Wayne ESP25 is a fine alternative. You’ll also want a water alarm to go along with it (and to install it above the backup float switch, with the backup float switch installed above the AC float switch). We recommend the Basement Watchdog. Between a backup sump pump and a water alarm, the odds of ever having a flooded basement should be very low (especially if your backup sump pump is a smart one like the WSM3300 with the ability to call you when it activates or if it malfunctions).

Wayne CDU1000 Sump Pump Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

In conclusion, we’d primarily recommend the CDU1000 for applications where you need to move a lot of water quickly for $200 or less. If reliability is a greater priority than speed, we’d suggest the Zoeller M63 instead, while if you’re looking for both reliability and power, the best AC sump pump under $500 we’ve yet come across is the Zoeller M267.

You can buy the Wayne CDU1000 here on Amazon. You can buy the Zoeller M63 here. You can buy the Zoeller M267 here. You can buy the Wayne ESP25 here or buy the Wayne WSM3300 here. You can buy a water alarm here. You can buy a silent check valve here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.