I'm trying to find a battery backup sump pump for my basement. I have a fairly shallow pit only about 17inches deep with stone under it preventing me from digging deeper. I have a high water table which causes my 1/2HP main pump to turn on often during heavy storms and the low depth of the pit means that the water can reach 2-5inches from the top of the pit even with the primary pump running. As a result, both the primary pump and backup float would be triggered, having both pumps running at the same time pumping water through the same 2inch PVC to the outside.

Two question I have are: 1) With large amount of water to be pumped (+3000GPH) what battery backup sump pump do you recommend. 2) Should I run a second PVC out the house as the discharge for the backup system or can my existing 2" PVC support both the main and backup sump pump running simultaneously.

I don't know of any back up sump pump that is designed to move that volume of water... a back up pump is exactly that... a back up and will only work as long as the battery can last.

Zoeller makes a great battery back up sump pump (will need to purchase a good quality deep cycle marine battery to make this work well for you), but I do not think it can deal with that volume... check it out at Zoeller Pump Company ...manufacturer of submersible sump pumps for dewatering, effluent, sewage and grinder applications, home improvement products, and pump sizing software. (http://www.zoeller.com). I believe they call it the basement sentry... great system. Good luck!

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There are other ways to set the "float" level. You can set the main pump electronically. See Electronic Sump Watcher Controls Tub Overflow & Leaks (http://www.washerwatcher.com/sump_watcher.htm) .

The problem is that both pumps need to fit into the pit. There are water backup pumps too. Where water powers the pump. Usually they discharge through the same line. A few check valves and they are happy, even it both pumps run.

Here is an example as how a water powered backup pump is connected. Zoeller's HOME GUARD Backup Sump Pump System that is powered by water. (http://www.do-it-yourself-pumps.com/homeguard.htm)

Battery backup typically has short backup times.

If you have city water you can install a sump pump that works off the water pressure in your water pipes. This is a back up to your regular pump and only kicks in during power failures or over flows. Just read KISS post and see he mentions the same item. Hi-Performance Water-Powered Backup Sump Pumps (http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm) Not sure how you came up with 3000 gph but that a heck of a lot of water.

I am Stephen Andras Founder and President of Pioneer Basement. My company has been installing battery back up sump pumps for over 20 years. I recommend a ProSeries 2400 battery back up sump system that can run 15 hours on two 140 amp batteries. It can pump up to 2400 GPH. It should be set up on it's own discharge line that way if your primary pump can't handle the volume the back up system will work to handle the extra volume of water.
I hope this helps. You can either contact GrateProducts: Revolutionizing the basement waterproofing industry (http://www.grateproducts.com) to purchase the system or contact Pioneer Basement Waterproofing: Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Specialists (http://www.pioneerbasement.com) if you need one installed.

As a battery capacity decides a service of a sump pump,I would recommend to have a good capacity battery which can run uninterruptedly for hours to get off water. Also you may increase the number of pipe that let water go off. Sometimes the size of pipe is also a barrier and affecting factor for sump pump service. You can have check up at atlantiswaterproofing.com (http://www.atlantiswaterproofing.com),which is a leading basement waterproofing (http://www.atlantiswaterproofing.com) firm.