CPAP machine w/ inverter. How much power?
Hi Folks, A little background. Not new to RVing, but starting to deal with battery issues more, now that I have a week long music festival coming up w/ no hookups. I decided that after last year, n...
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BEWARE! ! !
I tried a Respironics with a Samlex PURE SINE inverter and the machine went nuts. Hieroglyphics on the machine's screen. Lost all settings. The stored data on the data card was corrupted.
Because of the WATER ISSUE (humification) most machines use LOW VOLTAGE direct current which is converted by a brick just like a laptop computer.
My machine is TWELVE VOLTS D.C. (battery power). With a proper plug to fit the socket, a direct cigarette lighter socket/plug connection to the machine is appropriate. Most manufacturers in fact offer an ACCESSORY cigarette lighter cord to power machines. Operation is identical to that when using the brick and AC.
Another caveat. CPAP and BiPAP manufacturers warn against leaving the machines connected to 12 volts DC when a charging source higher than recommended is seen in the 12 volt power system. So converter power is OK, but manufacturers do not like to see machines connected when the rig's engine is started. I would say 14.0 volts is about the limit for comfort.
HUMIDIFIERS draw FOUR TIMES as much power as the blower and hardware. Around one amp with the humidifier shut off and five amps BATTERY POWER when the humidifier is HEATING. Unless it is very cold, humidifier heaters turn on and off as needed.
Just for drill, the SAMLEX powering the Respironics with humidifier on drew EIGHT POINT FOUR amperes out of the battery bank. That is quite a penalty to pay for using an inverter, never mind the software scrambling.
Not all inverters will do this, but I challenge anyone to come up with a MODIFIED sine wave inverter that will work with MY Respironics BiPAP.
I tried a Respironics with a Samlex PURE SINE inverter and the machine went nuts. Hieroglyphics on the machine's screen. Lost all settings. The stored data on the data card was corrupted.
Because of the WATER ISSUE (humification) most machines use LOW VOLTAGE direct current which is converted by a brick just like a laptop computer.
My machine is TWELVE VOLTS D.C. (battery power). With a proper plug to fit the socket, a direct cigarette lighter socket/plug connection to the machine is appropriate. Most manufacturers in fact offer an ACCESSORY cigarette lighter cord to power machines. Operation is identical to that when using the brick and AC.
Another caveat. CPAP and BiPAP manufacturers warn against leaving the machines connected to 12 volts DC when a charging source higher than recommended is seen in the 12 volt power system. So converter power is OK, but manufacturers do not like to see machines connected when the rig's engine is started. I would say 14.0 volts is about the limit for comfort.
HUMIDIFIERS draw FOUR TIMES as much power as the blower and hardware. Around one amp with the humidifier shut off and five amps BATTERY POWER when the humidifier is HEATING. Unless it is very cold, humidifier heaters turn on and off as needed.
Just for drill, the SAMLEX powering the Respironics with humidifier on drew EIGHT POINT FOUR amperes out of the battery bank. That is quite a penalty to pay for using an inverter, never mind the software scrambling.
Not all inverters will do this, but I challenge anyone to come up with a MODIFIED sine wave inverter that will work with MY Respironics BiPAP.
