WATTGRIDLAB
Pumps & Heating120V • NEMA 5-15PLoad Class: inductive motor

3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump: Running Watts, 3600W LRA Surge, Generator Size & LiFePO4 Battery Runtime

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) • Quick Sizing Answer85% Inverter Eff × 90% LiFePO4 DoD Modeled

A 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump requires 1,350 running watts (11.25A at 120V via a NEMA 5-15P plug) and spikes to 3,600 starting surge watts (2.7× LRA inrush). At a realistic 25% duty cycle (~338 Wh/hr net burn), you need a minimum 3,600W inverter or generator and at least 5,302 Wh (~415 Ah @ 12.8V) of LiFePO4 battery capacity for a 12-hour blackout. Our top-matched plug-and-play solar generator for a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Wheeled Station).

Running / LRA SurgeMin Inverter / Gen4h / 8h Battery Wh12h / 24h Battery Wh (Ah)Best Solar Generator Match
1,350W run / 3,600W pk1,620W cont / 3,600W peak1,768 Wh (4h) • 3,535 Wh (8h)5,302 Wh / 10,604 Wh (415Ah @12V)EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Wheeled Station)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Running Watts1,350W25% duty (~338 Wh/hr)
Startup Surge (LRA)3,600W2.7× LRA peak spike
Amps & Plug11.25A120V • NEMA 5-15P
Min Generator W3,600WClears surge + 20% NEC
12-Hr Battery Wh5,302 Wh8h: 3,535 Wh • 24h: 10,604 Wh

Interactive Outage Load & Backup Runtime Simulator

Find the exact plug-and-play battery backup or generator to keep your fridge, Wi-Fi, sump pump, and family essentials running during a blackout—no electrical math required.

1-Click Homeowner Outage Presets (Auto-Loads Appliances & Duty Cycles)Tap a preset below or search any of our 100 rated appliances
Your Selected Appliances (1 of 1 active)
3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump120V (5-15P)Pure Sine
1,350W run3,600W surge→ 338 Wh/hr avg (25% duty)
1

How Long Do You Need Backup Power?

12 Hours
Recommended Plug-and-Play Solution120V Plug & Play

To safely run this 1 item for 12 hours, you need a plug-and-play power station with at least 5,302 Wh capacity and 1,620 W output (clearing 3,600 W startup surge).

Top Pick: EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Wheeled Station)
3,600 Wh • 3600W / 7200W surge • ~8.1h run
~$2,199
Check Price on Amazon

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Circuit Load & Surge Envelope
Run: 1,350WInverter Min: 1,620WPeak Surge: 3,600W
0W1,440W (NEC 80% 15A)1,800W (Max 15A Cord)3,960W Scale
1. Continuous Running Load
1,350 W

Rec. Inverter: 1,620W (+20% NEC)

Draws ~11.3A @ 120V • Highest Plug: NEMA 5-15P

2. Peak Startup Surge
3,600 W

Spike Leader: 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump

+2,250W inductive LRA spike (staggered)

3. Actual Energy Burn (12h)
5,302 Wh Batt

338 Wh/hr × 12h = 4,056 Wh net

Formula: 4,056 / (0.85 inv × 0.90 DoD)

4. Compatibility Alerts
120V SINGLE-PHASE OKPURE SINE (<3% THD) REQ15A RECEPTACLE SAFE

Protects 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump from waveform damage.

How Plug-and-Play Battery Backup Works (No Electrician Needed for 120V)100% Indoor Safe • Zero Carbon Monoxide • Instant Setup
Step 1 • Pre-Charge or Solar

Charge Battery from Wall or Solar

Plug into any normal wall outlet to fast-charge to 100% in ~60 minutes before a storm, or top off outdoors with folding solar panels.

Step 2 • Direct 3-Prong Plug-In

Plug Fridge, Wi-Fi, or Sump Pump Into Front 120V Outlet

Plug your appliance's normal 3-prong cord straight into the power station's front 120V AC outlets—just like a wall socket.

Step 3 • Silent Indoor Autonomy

Instant Silent Backup Power Indoors with Zero Fumes

Safe for kitchens, nurseries, bedrooms, and apartments with automatic <20ms UPS blackout switchover and zero gasoline or exhaust.

Hardware Matchmaker: Filtered strictly to units clearing 1,620W continuous & 3,600W surge.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (FTC Disclosure)
Track A • Silent Indoor Safe

Best Matched LiFePO4 Power Station

Zero fumes, <20ms UPS auto-switchover, safe for bedrooms, apartments & basements.

Need: 5,302 Wh
PRIMARY RIGHT-SIZED MATCHLiFePO4 (6,500 Cycles to 50%)

EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Wheeled Station)

3,600Wh / 7,200W Surge Flagship 120V Home & 30A RV Transfer

Est. Tier
~$2,199

Runs your exact load for ~8.1 hrs — Expandable with solar/extra battery

Covers ~8.1h per charge; add solar panels or ~1 expansion pack(s) for full 12h autonomy.

Capacity
3,600 Wh
Output / Surge
3600W/7200W
Noise
45 dB
Load Util
38%
NEMA Outlets: 120V: NEMA TT-30R (30A) + 4× NEMA 5-20R + Anderson 30A
  • 3,600W continuous / 7,200W surge handles entire 120V 30A transfer panels
  • 3,600Wh LFP base capacity expands to 10.8kWh with Smart Extra Batteries
COMPACT BUDGET OPTIONLiFePO4 (4,000+ Cycles, IP65 Pack)

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus

1/2 HP Sump Pumps, Kitchen Fridges & Whisper-Quiet 30 dB UPS

Est. Tier
~$799

Runs your exact load for ~2.3 hrs — Expandable with solar/extra battery

Covers ~2.3h per charge; add solar panels or ~5 expansion pack(s) for full 12h autonomy.

Capacity
1,024 Wh
Output / Surge
1800W/3600W
Noise
30 dB
Load Util
75%
NEMA Outlets: 120V: 6× NEMA 5-20R (<10ms UPS), Dual 140W USB-C
  • 3,600W pure sine surge easily clears 1/2 HP submersible sump pump LRA
  • Whisper-quiet 30 dB under 600W load + <10ms server-grade UPS switchover
Track B • Multi-Day Outdoor Fuel

Best Matched Dual-Fuel Inverter Generator

Unlimited runtime via stored propane or gasoline (operate 20+ ft outdoors only).

Window: 12h
BEST DUAL-FUEL MATCHGAS + PROPANECLEAN SINE WAVE

Champion 4500W Electric-Start Dual-Fuel Inverter

30A RV Rooftop AC, Mobile Detailing Vans & Jobsite Compressors

Est. Tier
~$949

Est. 12h Fuel Burn: ~1.4 gal gas OR ~7.3 lbs propane (~0.4 × 20-lb BBQ tanks)

Modeled at ~10% average throttle (~0.12 gal/hr) based on your 338 Wh/hr duty-adjusted load.

Rated / Peak
3500W/4500W
Tank @ 25%
14 hrs
Acoustic
61 dB
Weight
96 lbs
NEMA Outlets: 120V: NEMA TT-30R (30A RV) + 2× NEMA 5-20R
  • 4,500W starting surge handles factory 13,500 BTU RV ACs & 6-gal compressors
  • Built-in NEMA TT-30R 30A RV outlet + push-button electric start
STEP-UP HEADROOMGAS + PROPANECLEAN SINE WAVE

Westinghouse iGen4500DFc Remote-Start Dual-Fuel Inverter

Ultra-Quiet 52 dB RV Boondocking, Detailing & Heavy 120V Home Loads

Est. Tier
~$1,049

Est. 12h Fuel Burn: ~1.6 gal gas OR ~8.3 lbs propane (~0.5 × 20-lb BBQ tanks)

Modeled at ~9% average throttle (~0.13 gal/hr) based on your 338 Wh/hr duty-adjusted load.

Rated / Peak
3700W/4500W
Tank @ 25%
18 hrs
Acoustic
52 dB
Weight
104.7 lbs
NEMA Outlets: 120V: NEMA TT-30R (30A RV) + 2× NEMA 5-20R
  • Wireless key-fob remote start + electric choke for effortless winter cranking
  • Oversized 3.4-gallon tank delivers up to 18 hours between refuels

Essential Hookup & Protection Kit (Auto-Matched to Your Load)

Prevents voltage drop, flame-sensor faults & LRA trips
soft start~$68

AC Compressor & Well Motor Soft-Start Capacitor Kit

Cuts your 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump startup spike (3,600W) by up to 65% so smaller inverters won't trip.

cord~$54

10-Gauge SJTW Heavy-Duty Lighted Generator Cord (25 ft)

Required for your 1,350W continuous / 3,600W surge stack to stop voltage sag on startup.

shelter~$64

Heavy-Duty Storm-Proof Outdoor Generator Running Cover

Keeps outdoor dual-fuel generators running safely 20+ ft away from your house in driving storm rain or blizzard snow.

Best Solar Generator & LiFePO4 Battery Runtime for 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump (4h, 8h, 12h & 24h)

Calculated at 25% duty cycle (338 Wh/hr) with 85% inverter efficiency & 90% LiFePO4 usable DoD.

Battery SizeUsable AC WhEst. RuntimeInverter Verdict
500 Wh383 WhOverloadInverter too small for surge/V
1,024 Wh783 Wh~2.3 hrsStarts 3600W surge
2,048 Wh1,567 Wh~4.6 hrsStarts 3600W surge
3,600 Wh2,754 Wh~8.1 hrsStarts 3600W surge

Minimum Inverter & Generator Size Needed for 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump

Evaluates 1350W continuous draw (+20% NEC margin), 3600W peak LRA spike, and 120V output.

Generator TierRated / SurgeStatusEngineering Note
2200W Quiet Inverter1800W / 2200WTRIPSTrips overload — 3,600W LRA surge exceeds 2,200W peak
3500W RV Inverter3000W / 3500WTRIPSTrips overload — 3,600W LRA surge exceeds 3,500W peak
4500W+ Dual-Fuel / 240V4000W / 5500WPASSCompatible with comfortable NEC headroom

Running Watts, LRA Surge & Field Sizing Guidance

High-head 3/4 HP pumps pushing vertical lifts above 15 feet draw 11.25A continuous and up to 30A LRA at rotor lock. Use a dedicated 12-AWG or 10-AWG cord directly into a 20A receptacle on a 2,400W+ LiFePO4 station or 4,000W+ dual-fuel inverter generator.

Waveform Verdict: Pure Sine Wave Mandatory (<3% THD)

High-head 3/4 HP submersible windings experience severe harmonic heating and premature capacitor failure on stepped-wave inverters.

Receptacle Spec: 120V • NEMA 5-15P • 11.25 Amps Continuous

Frequently Asked Sizing Questions: 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump

How many watts does a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump use to start and run?

A typical 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump draws 1,350 continuous running watts (11.25A at 120V via a NEMA 5-15P plug) and spikes up to 3,600 peak startup surge watts (2.7x running load). With a realistic 25% hourly duty cycle, it consumes approximately 338 Wh per hour.

What size solar generator or battery backup will run a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump overnight?

Accounting for 85% AC inverter conversion efficiency and 90% LiFePO4 usable depth-of-discharge (0.765 total factor), running a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump requires 1,768 Wh for 4 hours, 3,535 Wh for 8 hours, 5,302 Wh (~415 Ah @ 12.8V / ~104 Ah @ 51.2V) for 12 hours, and 10,604 Wh for 24 hours. Our top-matched solar generator for this load is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Wheeled Station).

Can a 1500W inverter start a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump?

No — a 1,500W inverter will trip into overload protection because a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump requires 1,350W continuous (1,620W with NEC 20% headroom) and a 3,600W Locked Rotor Amp (LRA) startup surge.

What size generator or inverter do I need for a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump?

Applying the NEC 20% continuous load safety headroom (1,620W continuous) and clearing the 3,600W startup surge requires a generator or battery inverter rated for at least 3,600 peak watts.

Does a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump require a pure sine wave inverter?

Yes — a pure sine wave inverter (<3% THD) is strictly recommended for a 3/4 HP Cast-Iron Sump Pump. High-head 3/4 HP submersible windings experience severe harmonic heating and premature capacitor failure on stepped-wave inverters.

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