Zoeller 507-0005 Basement Sentry Battery Backup Sump Pump Review

When it comes to basements in single family homes, most homeowners and landlords fall into one of two categories: those who invested in backup sump pumps ahead of time and those who did so after dealing with a flooded basement. To put it bluntly, no matter how good your main AC sump pump is, if you have a power outage, that pump’s not going to move an ounce of water. And the way things work, you’re going to lose power just when your main pump was going at full throttle to keep your basement dry during a flash flood or thunderstorm.

In our books, it’s easy math: if you spend a few hundred dollars now, you won’t need to spend several thousand more later on while cleaning your basement, buying furniture, replacing high-def TVs, stereo systems, video games, or whatever other precious things you lost in a basement flood. So what’s a good backup sump pump?

The best DC backup sump pump we’ve yet reviewed is the Wayne WSM3300. This backup pump will perform a range of self tests each month and can call up to 5 phone numbers if you experience a power loss or if the pump detects maintenance issues. It’s the best DC backup pump on the market. However, if you don’t need the smart functionality and simply want many years of trouble-free functionality, you might want to consider the Zoeller 507-0005 Basement Sentry Battery backup. It’s a tried and true DC backup pump and it has high levels of compatibility with a range of Zoeller AC sump pumps such as the M267 (the best AC pump we’ve ever reviewed), the M98, the M63, the M57, and the M53. We’ll fully review it below, but if you’re deciding on whether or not to buy it, we recommend it, and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the Zoeller 507-0005 Backup Sump Pump (60 Second Summary)

The Zoeller 507-0005 is a pre-assembled battery backup submersible sump pump. The pump is a 12-volt DC-powered motor with a maximum water flow rate of 1,380 gallons per hour and includes a variable warranty of either 12 months from its installation date or 18 months from its manufacturing date. It is 12.5 inches tall, 7.75 inches wide, and 7 inches deep and weighs 13.3 pounds on our scale.

To run the Zoeller 507-0005, you’ll need a 12-volt deep cycle battery (not included). This needs to be 27, 29, or 31 size with at least 175 minutes in reserve capacity and maximum dimensions of 13″ in length, 7.5″ in width, and 9.5″ in height to fit within the polyethylene battery case. Multiple batteries can be connected via additional battery cases and hookup wires. Examples of compatible batteries include the MK-E27-SLD-G we reviewed, as well as the Zoeller Aquanot AGM.

The Zoeller 507-0005 features a control box with information provided via an LCD screen. You can follow battery voltage via the screen, as well as LED indicators for battery charging states, AC power levels, float activation due to high water, and more. The high water alarm can also be silenced for 24 hours through the control box. Although the backup pump has a max flow rate of 1,380 gallons per hour at zero feet, the rate drops to 900 GPH at 10 feet, 300 GPH at 15 feet, and shut-off occurs by 17.5 feet. Zoeller does not recommend the pump for applications where more than 15 feet of total dynamic head is required. The temperature range spans 40-120 degrees Fahrenheit, and the manual specifies a sump pit at least 18″ in diameter with at least 24″ in depth.

How Does the Zoeller 507-0005 Compare to the Wayne WSM3300 Backup Sump Pump?

The primary differences between the Zoeller 507-0005 and the Wayne WSM3300, which is a smart pump, involve the sophistication of the Wayne’s autodial and self-monitoring features. Zoeller notes that it’s possible to receive email, text, and push notifications of alarm activation via Z control, which is an alert system you can connect to an existing home alarm system. However, unlike in the Wayne’s notification systems, the Zoeller system is not independent and will not work without an already-present home alarm system.

That said, the Zoeller will provide a high degree of reliability; it’s not uncommon to have a Basement Sentry 10 years old still in good working condition (keeping in mind that the batteries need replacement before then, of course). Keep in mind, however, that the WSM3300 is also a much faster backup pump than the 507-0005. If your priority is water removal, the WSM3300 will get it done much more quickly, reducing battery drain and giving you a significantly longer window of battery life.

With that out of the way, we see the Zoeller 507-0005 as highly compatible with many primary sump pumps, including thee M267 (our favorite AC sump pump), the M98, the M63, the M57, and the M53. Compared to the Zoeller 508-0005, the 507-0005 is slower but no less reliable.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Zoeller 507-0005 Backup Sump Pump 

Installation is straightforward, even if you don’t frequently install sump pumps. Remember that you’ll need to install a deep cycle battery while plugging in the unit to keep the battery on a full charge. And if you want to use the auto-dial features included, you’ll need to connect the pump to an already-existing home alarm system and program the two to work together.

Regarding long term feedback, we’re happy with the reliability of the Zoeller 507-0005, whether it’s installed independently or paired with a combination sump pump package like the Zoeller 507-0008 or the Zoeller 507-0011. It shouldn’t be too hard to get 10 years of good service from it, keeping in mind that you’ll want to test it every now and then during that interim to make sure the float switches don’t get stuck and that the battery continues to hold a charge.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Zoeller 507-0005 Working Sooner

Remember to install the Zoeller 507-0005 above your main pump if they’re sharing a sump pump pit. More specifically, the float switch for the backup pump needs to be above that of the main pump so the backup pump only kicks in when the main pump can’t keep up with water levels (or during a power outage when the main pump will be inoperable).

Once you’ve completed your installation, have a look at the indicator lights to make sure you’ve put everything together correctly. When you’ve got AC power, the AC light should be green. If you lose power, it should blink red. Your battery charging indicator should be green when your battery is fully charged, yellow when the battery is charging or discharging, and red when it’s low. With battery voltage below 10.8 volts, the red light should blink slowly and the blinking should speed up when the voltage drops below 8.4 volts. If the battery is low, a low battery alarm should sound.

When the float switch triggers due to high water levels, there should be a yellow blinking light indicating as much, and the light should stay solid once it’s been on for 3 seconds. Similarly, your high water alarm should also begin to sound. If you press the alarm reset, you’ll reset all of the ongoing alarms. Pressing and holding it for 3 seconds will silence all alarms for the next 24 hours. If you’re in a situation with high water but feel your pumps are taking care of it, you can silence alarms without worry.

Zoeller 507-0005 Backup Sump Pump’s Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

Overall, we feel confident recommending the Zoeller 507-0005 to most families and landlords interested in a backup DC sump pump. It doesn’t have the built-in smart features of the Wayne WSM3300, but it’s reliable, affordable, and will give you another line of defense if your main AC sump pump runs into trouble. It’s also compatible with a range of AC pumps. If you need a high level of self-testing ability as well as a sump pump that can phone you, you’ll want the Wayne. Similarly, if you want top pumping speeds, you’ll want the Wayne. But if you don’t need either of those features, the Zoeller will do a perfectly fine job of keeping your basement dry when the power cuts out.

You can buy the Zoeller 507-0005 here on Amazon. You can buy the Zoeller 508-0005 DC pump here. You can buy the Wayne WSM3300 DC pump here. You can buy the Zoeller 507-0008 combination pump here. You can buy the Zoeller 507-0011 AC/DC pump here. You can buy the Wayne WSSM40V combination pump here. You can buy the Zoeller AGM battery here. You can buy the MK E27-SLD-G battery 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.