Connecting a CPAP machine to a battery?

[mileena]

I have been prescribed a CPAP machine for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. How do I run this while traveling if I don't have a generator or battery?

I am thinking of buying a portable jump starter like this:



I already have a 400 Watt inverter which I can connect to it and which I read is sufficient to power the CPAP machine and humidifier from what I have read. Or can I just use my car battery? Otherwise, I need a battery that is portable since I bring it inside to charge, like at a gym or library.

Also, how do you connect the jumper cable clamps of a portable battery with jumper cables of an inverter like below? It is hard to get a good connection.



Thanks for any help!

[ktmrfs]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
ktmrfs, my numbers were based off what I got from the company website, it may be high due to them going by the maximums, I dont know.
My pressure has been raised twice by the docs, DW's has half a dozen times so I would assume those pressure settings change power consumption. The bricks also show the watt ratings at 12 volts as 60 for mine and 90 for hers.

If your number is a measured number, and his unit is similar, he could use a group 27 battery and a 50 watt solar panel and would have a surplus. phone, laptop ets charging would all be helped.

I found on both my machines, the mfg ratings are way higher than actual. They usually give a consumption based on power from a 120V line worst case including inrush. since internally almost all are really running of either 12V or 24V there is a conversion loss as well.

I'd bet the 60 and 90W ratings account for the high current needed initially for the humidifier till the water warms up as well, then it drops down to a much lower number.

In any case, the humidifier, if needed, is the biggest power hog. I've found turning it off and filling it with water normally is sufficient.

and yes, I suspect higher pressure has an affect as well.

It would be interesting on your units to hook them to a kilowatt meter and see what it actually draws under various conditions.

[racer4]

If you need 12V DC, this Powerstream 12 volt portable battery station probably cost less than what Respironics sells.

[kerrlakeRoo]

ktmrfs, my numbers were based off what I got from the company website, it may be high due to them going by the maximums, I dont know.
My pressure has been raised twice by the docs, DW's has half a dozen times so I would assume those pressure settings change power consumption. The bricks also show the watt ratings at 12 volts as 60 for mine and 90 for hers.

If your number is a measured number, and his unit is similar, he could use a group 27 battery and a 50 watt solar panel and would have a surplus. phone, laptop ets charging would all be helped.

[pianotuna]

Are you in one place? Or are you like me, a bit of a rolling stone?

If you must recharge at your gym, then the best fit may be an LI battery pack.

For regular lead acid batteries to have a long life, they need to be recharged to 100% as often as humanly possible. Unfortunately, the closer they are to 100% the slower the charging rate.

[PaulJ2]

My Respironics unit is also older, and uses the same exact 12 volt cord that Tiger4x4RV is using/showing.

[ktmrfs]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
DW and I both use machines, mine is a CPAP without the humidifier, (appears to use about 4 amps per hr) and hers is a BIPAP with the humidifier (uses as much as 7 amps per hr) Both are Phillips units capable of running straight from 12 volts.

If you wear the mask 8 hrs the energy consumed can be as high as 50 amps per night. for a single machine. So how big is you house battery? can it carry that usage without totally depleting the battery?

wow, your AH seem way high. My resdmed using the 12V-24V converter and not using the humidifier, a nights use is less than 8AH, e.g. less than 1A per hour.

my lithium Ion 200WH battery pack will typically last 3 nights w/o the humidifier. 200WH= 15-18AH so going on that again, 6AH/night or less than 1A draw.

Now the humidifier depending on temperatures etc. can run that up to between 2 and 3A/hr or 16 to 24AH/night.

with the humidifier, the battey pack is good for 1 night.

Like Mex points out, Worst case has been when the night time temps drop well below freezing and the trailer drops to 45F at night. the I need the humidifier and it uses the most current, around 3ish A.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Using it in a van, your most economical method would probably be to add a deep cycle battery of at least 85 and preferably 105 amps, on a battery isolator circuit. You could install the battery under your bed in the back and keep it accessable for removal for outside charging and your vans alternator would recharge whenever you are driving, and the isolator would keep the CPAP from killing your starting battery.

A deep cycle marine Battery would run you less than $100 and the isolators are about $50.
Happy motorin

[MEXICOWANDERER]

For me, breathing warm air reduces the need of the humidifier. If the humidifier is sucking 48F sir I need the humidifier. Because of where I am now in an unheated house I will be sticking the entire machine and hose under my comforter starting tomorrow. Letting the mattress pad normalize the temperature. It's supposed to dip to the high thirties F on Thursday. The humidifier does not stand a chance. For the last couple of weeks the temperature has been slumping. Using half a reservoir of water but I wake up with froze-nose and cheeks.

Been there done that. The Respironics did not even get warm under the covers with the humidifier set on 5. Tongue stuck to roof of mouth 5AM is not my idea of good therapy. So I cranked the mattress pad up to PRE WARM, covered the humidifier and then checked it periodically. Getting overly warm was not part of the program. I sleep with the pad on "2"

And yes I have verified the humidifier is grunting and puffing it's little heart out. 3.9 additional amperes worth. Went to far as to shine the heating pad in the reservoir and under the water reservoir. Even put dielectric grease to aid heat transfer. Tomorrow night under the comforter.

[Sam_Spade]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Respironics operate on 12vdc and can run directly from a battery with the correct cord.

Some do and some don't.
Check the specs. on the unit or on the "brick" to see for sure.

[Sam_Spade]

mileena wrote:
I have been prescribed a CPAP machine for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. How do I run this while traveling if I don't have a generator or battery?

If you get a CPAP machine that runs on 12 VDC, that makes matters somewhat easier. My insurance had no problem with that.

BUT a bigger issue might be: With no onboard generator, how will you recharge whatever battery you get so you can use it again the next night ???

[gkainz]

thanks for the pic edit! Much nicer! And looks like you've gotten good advice above. A lot of us hose heads here!

You may find a place to actually install a second battery in your van, a deep cycle like RVs have that will charge from the engine electrical system, but not discharge your starting battery. Depends on how often you might use a setup like this to decide if it's worth it. Going that route would eliminate your need to seek out recharging plugs.

The next logical step (in my mind, at least) would be a solar panel on your van roof. I use a portable battery pack and portable solar charger when I tent camp (not often - the ground has gotten too hard!).

Oh, and ditto above recommendations to turn off the humidifier - it's a power hog!

[Bumpyroad]

mileena wrote:

Thanks! Yes mine has that battery "brick". It is a Philips Respironics DreamStation. I will go to their site and buy a battery. I've read that they only last 4 hours or so, without the humidifier. We'll see.

run your humidifier on passover mode and battery will last a whole lot longer.
bumpy

[Tiger4x4RV]

Mileena, your life is gonna change now. You have a new amp-sucking vanmate. You need to get a power source which is compatible with the CPAP and which can recharge realistically within your daily travel routine. This recharging might occur from solar or from 110 power or from your vehicle's 12V plug while the engine is running. Goal Zero? Special CPAP battery?

[mileena]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
DW and I both use machines, mine is a CPAP without the humidifier, (appears to use about 4 amps per hr) and hers is a BIPAP with the humidifier (uses as much as 7 amps per hr) Both are Phillips units capable of running straight from 12 volts.

If you wear the mask 8 hrs the energy consumed can be as high as 50 amps per night. for a single machine. So how big is you house battery? can it carry that usage without totally depleting the battery?

Thanks kerrlakeRoo! Not sure, since I don't have an RV yet. I use my van when I travel, but the downside is no power.

[mileena]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
CPAP.com shows a shielded DC (12V) cord for the Dream Station available for $29.95. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dreamstation-shielded-dc-cord.html

I have an older Respironics System One machine and have used the CPAP.com DC cord for it for years in the RV with no trouble. It uses a cigarette lighter type plug and the regular 12V wiring.

Read the manual on your jump starter carefully. Some of them cannot handle the sustained load of running a CPAP. Here is a link from the Stanley website for the unit shown in your photo. I'm a librarian, good at looking things up, and not an electrician, so I'll leave it to you or your electrical pro to interpret what this manual says about the sort of load your Dream Station will create.

You may need the humidifier. Humidity here in SoCal has often been in the single digits lately and my respiratory system has really appreciated having that humidifier.

Awesome! I am going to buy that. Also, I am currently in northern NV and the Bay Area of CA. I figure who needs a humidifier with a CPAP if you are used to breathing just normal air in the house or RV.

And good advice re charging times in your other post. Sometimes I am just by an outlet to charge for a few hours per day. So it has to charge fast. Either that, or I have to buy multiple batteries.