cheap option for powering a bi-pap/cpap machine

ResMed CPAP machines can run directly off of a 12 volt battery, without the heated humidifier, using a set of connector wires with alligator clips on one end and a cylinrical plug to fit the CPAP machine's receptacle. You must connect the connector wires with the proper polarity to avoid damaging the machine. A $40 18 amp-hour gel cell battery will run a CPAP without humidifier for two to three 8-hour sleeps. You can recharge gel cell battery with a battery minder or other smart charger. Some CPAP machines like Respironics do not run on 12 vdc and must be powered by a 110vac inverter connected to your house battery, a seperate battery, or plugged into your RV's 12 vdc TV receptacle. My next CPAP machine will be a ResMed that runs directly off a 12 volt battery using a simple $40 battery connector harness.Check the specs for other brands/models of CPAP machines concerning whether they will work off 12 volt DC batteries or must use inverters providing 110vac.

we have a class c. i was wanting something that could charge during the day going down the road and be used only 1 night at a time. honestly, it would be used for the times we are travelling a couple days to our destination. i'd like to just be able to pull over and sleep at a walmart. our marine battery is a little hard to get to to run an inverter. i really don't want to have to try to figure out where to put a second marine battery.

I was thinking either the

5-in-1 Portable Power Pack Chicago Electric Power Systems or the
Duracell DRPP600 Powerpack 600 Jump Starter and Emergency Power Sourc

So you are thinkng that the Duracell portable battery pack is better than improving your lead acid battery bank?

I am guessing, but you might be looking at a portable battery pack, perhaps 10 amp hours or maybe 15 amp hours. If it is over 30 pounds, then perhaps might be 20 amp hours, but my guess it is smaller, and will not really power the CPAP machine overnight.

I put 4 each 220 amp hour 6 volt batteries and a 400 watt solar system in one fifth wheel, with a 1,500 watt inverter. The batteries still needed to be recharged after a couple of days from a generator to keep the CPAP running all night long. But he was good for a really long weekend while it was sunny.

So what is it that you want to do?

Do you want to dry camp for 2 nights without running a generator? I can tell you what size battery bank you will need.

3 nights? Just add another pair of batteries.

More than three nights? You will either need solar panels or a generator to keep camping for a while. I was able to camp for weeks at a time with a 400 watt solar system and 4 golf cart batteries. But I did not have a CPAP at the time. If I want to run a CPAP, I will need to expand the solar system to about 600 watts, but can keep the battery bank at 440 AH. I might still need to run the generator a bit, but not as much as soneone without a solar system.

Fred.

I bought the 12 volt adapter from the cpap machine company and just installed a female plug to plug it into next to my side of the bed so it runs off the trailer 12 volt system when not plugged into shore power. Total cost less than $100.

twins89....how long does a battery last with the cpap? I run mine about 7 hours sleep

We bought an inverter that goes in the bedroom 12 volt outlet. It was purchased from Radio Shack for about 40.00. My husband's cpap machine went all night from this inverter. We do have two marine deep cell batteries but we were surprised at how long we could run the machine. Worked out great.

I hve a C pap machine. Apparently it has A pap capabilities. It has a heated humidifier also. I take it in the trailer all the time.


Obviously when we have elec hook up it is no problem. I can buy a rechargeable battery for this also. Have you given it a thought?

My machine with the heated hose and full mask was $1400.00 dollars. The Ontario government kicks in $780.00 for everybody and my hubby's work ins paid almost $500.00 so the $100.00 it cost me was pretty cheap. A battery pack is around $400.00 with battery. I think it is a small price to pay for the benefits. Also the gov't replaces for a new one every few years.

How old is your machine? It may be worth talking to someone ( shop you bought yours) about your options and the new machines.