The Red Lion RL-SC50V (item 14942747) is a 1/2-HP cast-iron sump pump with a vertical float switch. Its main advantage over the tethered RL-SC50T is basin size: it fits a 15-inch-diameter pit, where the tethered model needs 18 inches. Red Lion rates it at 3,000 gallons per hour at 10 feet of head.
This review is based on Red Lion’s RL-SC owner’s manual and product page. Nobody tested the pump for this page.
Key specifications
| Item | Red Lion’s figures for RL-SC50V |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1/2 HP, 115 volts, 5.3 amps |
| Switch | Vertical float; on at 7 inches, off at 2.25 inches |
| Discharge | 1-1/2-inch FNPT |
| Cord | 10 feet, with a piggyback switch plug |
| Minimum basin | 18 inches deep, 15 inches in diameter |
| Flow at 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 feet of head | 3,840 / 3,000 / 2,220 / 1,440 gph |
| Shut-off head | 28 feet |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
The RL-SC50T has the same motor and flow curve but a tethered float. It switches on at 13 inches and off at 5, which means longer cycles, and it needs an 18-inch-diameter basin.
As of October 3, 2026, Red Lion’s cast-iron product page lists only the tethered RL-SC33T and RL-SC50T. The vertical-switch RL-SC50V still appears in the current owner’s manual. Confirm that a seller has the V model and item number 14942747 before you buy.
Size it by the real head
Add the vertical lift from the pump to the discharge outlet, then allow extra for pipe length, elbows and the check valve. Read the flow at that total head, not at 5 feet. Above about 20 feet of total head, this pump’s output drops quickly toward its 28-foot shut-off.
Installation points from the manual
- Set the pump on a hard, level surface in a clean basin, never directly on clay, earth or gravel.
- Use discharge pipe the same diameter as the pump outlet, with as few elbows as possible.
- Install the check valve horizontally, or at no more than 45 degrees, so it doesn’t trap solids. Drill a 1/8- or 3/16-inch air-relief hole in the discharge pipe between the pump and the check valve, below the floor line. Without it the pump can air-lock and run without moving water.
- Plug the pump into a properly grounded outlet on its own circuit, with GFCI protection where code requires it. Red Lion says not to use an extension cord.
- The pump is for clear water and other non-corrosive, non-explosive liquids. It is not for sewage, gravel, sand or corrosive liquids.
Keep the float’s travel clear of the pit wall, the discharge pipe and any backup pump. Never handle a plugged-in pump or stand in water near one.
Backup planning
Red Lion’s manual recommends an automatic backup system or an alarm wherever a pump failure, power outage or blocked discharge could cause damage. A finished basement is the main case for both.
Verdict
The RL-SC50V fits a 15-inch basin that needs half-horsepower cast-iron output at moderate head. If your pit is 18 inches or wider and you want longer cycles, look at the tethered RL-SC50T. Either way, confirm the exact model is in stock, because the V version no longer appears on Red Lion’s product page.