Please explain in very simple terms

[GeeGee2]

My husband and I both use CPAP machines. We would like to be able to boondock one night if we needed to while traveling. We have a 2015 Passport 23RB Elite. Are we equipped to boondock? Due to my husbands brain surgery we have to keep it simple and easy to accomplish. Can someone help me with this?

[wbwood]

Devocamper wrote:

TucsonJim wrote:
My brother-in-law camps with us from time to time. We just fire up the Honda 3000 generator, put it on eco-mode and let it run all night. No problems.

I am glad I have never dry camped near you,this is not an option in many places like state parks with no hookups and COE parks with no hookups since they have rules and times to run the generators, the poster should be prepaired to run the machines without a generator running all night. I have a group 27 AGM battery with a inverter and charger set up under the bed which runs the cpap all night then recharge that battery during the day with the generator. As quiet as some gens are your still bothering people they are trying to sleep and a generator is running all night unless you are really alone

The OP said boondocking, not dry camping...To me boondocking means being out and away from others. At least not up right next to each other like normal parks...If your neighbor can hear your generator, then you are not boondocking...

[LI-Camper]

I run only one C-PAP on 12V in my MH. I do not use the heated hose and humidifier options when on 12V. I have no problem getting thru the night. I have 2 6V golf cart batteries as my house batteries. However, if I needed to run a second C-PAP, I would use a 12v jump starter such as:Clore JNC660 'Jump-N-Carry' 1,700 Peak Amp 12-Volt Jump Starter that I bought on Amazon for $100 on sale (It is now $130). Even at $130, it is a cheaper option than others mentioned for occasional use and is easy to use,and can be useful for jump starting a car or MH, or using as a portable 12V source of power. This particular jump starter has excellent reviews and with Amazon Prime the shipping is "free". This is a simple solution for occasional use.

[Devocamper]

TucsonJim wrote:
My brother-in-law camps with us from time to time. We just fire up the Honda 3000 generator, put it on eco-mode and let it run all night. No problems.

I am glad I have never dry camped near you,this is not an option in many places like state parks with no hookups and COE parks with no hookups since they have rules and times to run the generators, the poster should be prepaired to run the machines without a generator running all night. I have a group 27 AGM battery with a inverter and charger set up under the bed which runs the cpap all night then recharge that battery during the day with the generator. As quiet as some gens are your still bothering people they are trying to sleep and a generator is running all night unless you are really alone

[Johno02]

Looking at ResMed on the internet, looks like they do have 12V adapters. I guess it depends on the particular type machine.

[Johno02]

What type of power does ResMed require?? Do they have 12v adapters for them?? The adapter for my Respironic is just a 12v plug-in. On my older one, it had a input plug for 12v, and a 110v plug. on the new series one, it actually runs on 12v all the time, and has a power brick like a computer.

[mowermech]

DW has a CPAP machine that runs on 12VDC, either from the coach batteries or via an AC adapter. She has used it for two or three nights, dry camping in the RV, without recharging the coach batteries (two 6V Trojan T-105s).
So, based on personal experience, yes, it CAN be done.

"My husband and I both use CPAP machines. We would like to be able to boondock one night if we needed to while traveling. We have a 2015 Passport 23RB Elite. Are we equipped to boondock? Due to my husbands brain surgery we have to keep it simple and easy to accomplish. Can someone help me with this?"

At the risk of seeming uncaring and rude, I respectfully suggest that you need to educate yourself on your CPAP machines, and on battery use. There are many resources available on the 'net, and your machine supplier/prescriber should be able to furnish all the information you need about the power requirements of your machines.
Not that I think you would be likely to use such an excuse, but the old bit that "Oh, I am old, and female, and I just can't learn such things!" won't wash today. My feeling is that you would be greatly offended if somebody were to say you would use such a ridiculous excuse. Anybody who can drive any RV can learn to manage the 12VDC power system!
Yes, I am a youngster, only 73.

[wbwood]

Rechargeable CPAP battery... Recharges in 3-4 hrs...

[Dakota98]

GeeGee2 wrote:
My husband and I both use CPAP machines. We would like to be able to boondock one night if we needed to while traveling. We have a 2015 Passport 23RB Elite. Are we equipped to boondock? Due to my husbands brain surgery we have to keep it simple and easy to accomplish. Can someone help me with this?

Op has indicated this is for the occasional need of one night.

From all indications they are normally on shore power.

There are two methods other than shore power, use an inverter, or go direct to battery. Going directly to a 12 volt battery source can be done, but only with the right set-up. ResMed machines have proprietary power requirements, Respironics do not. OP has not stated what machines they have nor if they use a humidifier. The simplest solution, not knowing what machines are in use would be a PURE SINE inverter, but less efficient. The question then becomes, how much available battery amp/hr do they have & do they even have a generator. A CPAP will shut down when "low voltage" occurs.

I have a Respironics with a direct to battery 12 volt adapter. I do not use a humidifier & I use a dedicated 35amp AGM battery that will last 2-3 nights before charging.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I refuse to sleep with a generator running. I do not believe it is safe.

Find cpap units that run on 12 volts.

Beef up the battery bank.

Add a solar charging system.

[beemerphile1]

Brand and model of CPAP is needed. When we got the wife's I made certain to get one that operates on 12vdc. We paid $24 extra for the 12vdc cord and plug it in directly to run from the RV batteries.

[wa8yxm]

Simple it is not but the solution is.. The problem

you have the loads the RV places on the battery all the time, in addition you may have additional load (Furnace) if it is cold at night.

You have the load of your CPAP Machines,, and if they have heaters that can be rather heavy.

you add 'em all up, double it and that's how much battery you need.

The simple verison:

Post what your battery/ies are and perhaps we can suggest some upgrades.

For example I have seen rigs with a pair of (or in some cases just one) Group 24 or 27 MARINE/deep cycle batteries.... Upgrading to a pair of GC-2 is like adding a 3rd battery with no change in the footprint.

Generally the soultion is to upgrade your battery bank.

[wbwood]

Sounds like the simplest way of all mentioned above is to get a small generator and use it.

Or you can get a couple of CPAP rechargeable batteries. One website I saw said an average run time of 16-24 hrs. You could recharge them during the day while you drive around or with a generator.

[LI-Camper]

If you get the 12v cord for your C-PAP, you can run it off a good 12v jump starter. The jump starters usually have a 12v outlet. You may need 2 jump starters for two C-PAP machines. I believe some C-PAPs have accessory batteries you can buy.

[Johno02]

CPAP on direct 12v uses less power than on inverter. If off-grid, why convert 12v to 110, then back to 12v??