I am wanting to know if the trailer outlets run off the batteries.Is there an inverter/converter/doohickie that allows the batteries to power the outlets?I need to run a CPAP machine at night, and want to go to campgounds without hookups and still get a good night's rest.The only 12v cigarette lighter type outlet I have is by the TV but that is 10-15 ft away from where I need it.I asked a parts guy at a trailer place and they said plugging something in to the outlet would work as long as it is a 12v appliance, but then they also said the outlets are on separate 120v circuit, so I don't know what to do with that info.I have a 2012 275BHS Dutchmen trailer... is there something that comes with the trailer that allows this or is it a modification that needs to be done?I am sure there is a wealth of knowledge on here that has a solution.I am a total newb when it comes to anything involving electricity so a simple solution is best.

The 12 volt things will work as long as the battery stays charged. However a CPAP can discharge 2 batteries overnight. So you will need to upgrade the batteries, and also consider a larger solar system in order to dry camp at all.I installed a 400 watt solar system in a larger fifth wheel for a CPAP owner. He already had two batteries, and I installed 2 more. A 1,500 watt MSW inverter, new electrical panel, and transfer switch. This powered two of the 120 volt circuits in the RV. He could run the CPAP overnight and that would run down all 4 batteries. In the daytime, he would use the solar system to recharge the batteries, then sometimes need to run the generator to fully charge the batteries.Fred.

Search 'cpap' and you'll see the wealth of knowledge that has preceded your question.

The outlets that look like the outlets in a house are 120v. The trailer must be plugged into a 120v source for the 120v outlets to be active. Like an electrical pedestal at a RV park or in your driveway. For you to get 120v when not plugged in you can use an inverter. If you are not sure if the trailer already has one, it probably doesn't. The 120v outlets will not power a 12v device without a transformer of some type. A 12v outlet resembles a cigarette lighter outlet. About a 3/4 inch round hole. If you have one of those, you can use an inexpensive (around 50 bucks or less) low power inverter that just plugs in to the lighter socket. If you do not already have a 12v socket close to where you need your CPAP, it would cost you less than 100 bucks to have one installed. Much cheaper if you can do it yourself. Walmart and many other stores sell everything you need and may even offer installation through their automotive department. Same folks who would install a new radio/stereo in a car anywhere could do this very quickly. I got my mom one of the low cost inverters for her nebulizer used for COPD. It plugged into the cars cigarette lighter. Also, check with the hospital or provider thst supplied the CPAP unit. They probably have everything you need. The place where we got ours, had the inverters for sale.

Golden_HVAC wrote:The 12 volt things will work as long as the battery stays charged. However a CPAP can discharge 2 batteries overnight. So you will need to upgrade the batteries, and also consider a larger solar system in order to dry camp at all.I installed a 400 watt solar system in a larger fifth wheel for a CPAP owner. He already had two batteries, and I installed 2 more. A 1,500 watt MSW inverter, new electrical panel, and transfer switch. This powered two of the 120 volt circuits in the RV. He could run the CPAP overnight and that would run down all 4 batteries. In the daytime, he would use the solar system to recharge the batteries, then sometimes need to run the generator to fully charge the batteries.Fred.Fred usually excellent advise aside, this is a case of "it depends". I have some friends that use a Group27 for two low load CPAP machines, it will run both for three nights.I have other friends that use the "battery boaster", which, with again low load machines will run one for two nights, no charging,Since these are all tent campers, I know they aren't running a generator.A lot depends on the model CPAP machine you have, some are designed to run directly off 12VDC and don't suck a lot of power.Some of them, well, they draw lots. Those include the models that add moisture

You could get a DC to AC inverter at your local auto parts store and plug the DC side into the 12v DC plug by your tv and run a 10 foot extension from the AC side of the inverter to your cpap machine. Just make sure the the wattage on the inverter will handle the cpap machine wattage use.

Do the trailer outlets run off the batteries? | Good Sam Community

Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
The 12 volt things will work as long as the battery stays charged. However a CPAP can discharge 2 batteries overnight. So you will need to upgrade the batteries, and also consider a larger solar system in order to dry camp at all.

I installed a 400 watt solar system in a larger fifth wheel for a CPAP owner. He already had two batteries, and I installed 2 more. A 1,500 watt MSW inverter, new electrical panel, and transfer switch. This powered two of the 120 volt circuits in the RV.

He could run the CPAP overnight and that would run down all 4 batteries. In the daytime, he would use the solar system to recharge the batteries, then sometimes need to run the generator to fully charge the batteries.

Fred.
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2014
Search 'cpap' and you'll see the wealth of knowledge that has preceded your question.
cochise49
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
The outlets that look like the outlets in a house are 120v. The trailer must be plugged into a 120v source for the 120v outlets to be active. Like an electrical pedestal at a RV park or in your driveway. For you to get 120v when not plugged in you can use an inverter. If you are not sure if the trailer already has one, it probably doesn't. The 120v outlets will not power a 12v device without a transformer of some type. A 12v outlet resembles a cigarette lighter outlet. About a 3/4 inch round hole. If you have one of those, you can use an inexpensive (around 50 bucks or less) low power inverter that just plugs in to the lighter socket. If you do not already have a 12v socket close to where you need your CPAP, it would cost you less than 100 bucks to have one installed. Much cheaper if you can do it yourself. Walmart and many other stores sell everything you need and may even offer installation through their automotive department. Same folks who would install a new radio/stereo in a car anywhere could do this very quickly. I got my mom one of the low cost inverters for her nebulizer used for COPD. It plugged into the cars cigarette lighter. Also, check with the hospital or provider thst supplied the CPAP unit. They probably have everything you need. The place where we got ours, had the inverters for sale.
n7bsn
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
Golden_HVAC wrote:
The 12 volt things will work as long as the battery stays charged. However a CPAP can discharge 2 batteries overnight. So you will need to upgrade the batteries, and also consider a larger solar system in order to dry camp at all.

I installed a 400 watt solar system in a larger fifth wheel for a CPAP owner. He already had two batteries, and I installed 2 more. A 1,500 watt MSW inverter, new electrical panel, and transfer switch. This powered two of the 120 volt circuits in the RV.

He could run the CPAP overnight and that would run down all 4 batteries. In the daytime, he would use the solar system to recharge the batteries, then sometimes need to run the generator to fully charge the batteries.

Fred.

Fred usually excellent advise aside, this is a case of "it depends". I have some friends that use a Group27 for two low load CPAP machines, it will run both for three nights.
I have other friends that use the "battery boaster", which, with again low load machines will run one for two nights, no charging,
Since these are all tent campers, I know they aren't running a generator.

A lot depends on the model CPAP machine you have, some are designed to run directly off 12VDC and don't suck a lot of power.
Some of them, well, they draw lots. Those include the models that add moisture
justaboutretire
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
You could get a DC to AC inverter at your local auto parts store and plug the DC side into the 12v DC plug by your tv and run a 10 foot extension from the AC side of the inverter to your cpap machine. Just make sure the the wattage on the inverter will handle the cpap machine wattage use.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
I will attempt to make this quick and understandable
Your CPAP uses a power brick which changes AC power to 12 volts DC power for the machine
You have to look at the label on the power brick to confirm this - there is too much info printed on the brick look for 12-volts-DC
This means your machine CAN operate DIRECTLY off of a 12 volt battery
You are going to need an additional accessory connection wire that connects your machine directly to a 12 volts power source in your rig
You can find a pigtail with the correct end at an electronics supply house, look at the Yellow Pages, Radio Shack is another source
The pigtail will not have enough wire length to attach to anything. You need to extend it
My CPAP extension cord has 20 feet of very supple black extension cord attached to the pigtail
The extension cord was purchased at Home Depot off a big roll in the electrical department
Buy as much as you need
A friend or shop can make a connection to any -always on- 12 volt power source in your bedroom. They will understand how to make a plug and socket connection the right way that looks good
A CPAP with humidifier uses a quantity of battery capacity every night that requires a deep cycle battery to be recharged after each night. Too much power drain for a single RV battery to go 2 nights in a row without charging

multiple batteries help
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECT YOUR CPAP TO A DEVICE CALLED AN INVERTER until you verify the inverter makes pure AC power called PURE SINE WAVE! This is crucial. You can DESTROY the CPAP if wrong power is sent to it
The CPAP will work just fine on battery power BUT BUT BUT the machine must be disconnected from 12 volt power BEFORE starting the engine or plugging into shore power
These instructions come direct from CPAP manufacturers and they mean it
Your machine will consume around 5 amperes of 12 volt power WHEN the humidifier is heating water in the humidifier chamber
Because of the long 20' length of my extension cable to a lighter socket, I chose 14 gauge cable at Home Depot
Remember to choose EXTENSION CORD CABLE, BLACK. It is round, not flat and is very supple. It is easy to roll up for storage
Stiffer cable causes a Rat's Nest tangle when you try to roll it up.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2014
It is my understanding that the 12v plug by the TV may not be wired to handle much.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 16, 2014
You need to add an inverter. Check the power rating but I think a 300w sine wave would work perfect. Easy to connect to the trailer to have power on the circuit you need.
OH48Lt
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
MexicoWanderer is giving you the best info. My experience has been that I can run the ResMed S8 CPAP for 3-4 nights easy, and that includes using the humidifier which is what uses most of the juice. I use the ResMed 12v unit which plugs into the 12V port on the S8, costs about $75, and plug that into a 12V extension cord which goes into the 12V outlet near the TV. Buy the extension cord at a truck stop like Pilot, etc Plenty of power at my TV outlet, 7A according to the sticker beside it.

Like mentioned above, unplug the CPAP 120VAC cord, and DO NOT plug the CPAP directly into 12V without the factory adapter, unless your particular brand of CPAP specifically says thats OK.
bcarroll
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
n7bsn wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
The 12 volt things will work as long as the battery stays charged. However a CPAP can discharge 2 batteries overnight. So you will need to upgrade the batteries, and also consider a larger solar system in order to dry camp at all.

I installed a 400 watt solar system in a larger fifth wheel for a CPAP owner. He already had two batteries, and I installed 2 more. A 1,500 watt MSW inverter, new electrical panel, and transfer switch. This powered two of the 120 volt circuits in the RV.

He could run the CPAP overnight and that would run down all 4 batteries. In the daytime, he would use the solar system to recharge the batteries, then sometimes need to run the generator to fully charge the batteries.

Fred.

Fred usually excellent advise aside, this is a case of "it depends". I have some friends that use a Group27 for two low load CPAP machines, it will run both for three nights.
I have other friends that use the "battery boaster", which, with again low load machines will run one for two nights, no charging,
Since these are all tent campers, I know they aren't running a generator.

A lot depends on the model CPAP machine you have, some are designed to run directly off 12VDC and don't suck a lot of power.
Some of them, well, they draw lots. Those include the models that add moisture
Whew...Fred had me a little concerned that it would not be possible without major modifications.
I have tried a Portable Power to run the machine but it did not last the night.
I have heard running the CPAP without the humidifier will greatly reduce the power consumption.

Thanks!