The first battery tutorial that has made sense to me -- but still so many unknowns

[jpek]

As I've mentioned quite a few times on this board, I need to set up an off-the-grid solution for my CPAP. The most important reason is that our new normal here in California is that we get terrible wildfires in the fall and our company preemptively shuts off the power for days at a time to prevent more fires from starting (brilliant move, creating its own emergency). So I need to power my CPAP (with humidifier) if my power gets turned off. The second reason is that I'd like to go camping, which I haven't been able to do since starting CPAP treatment five years ago.

It's been very hard for me to get my head around what exactly I need to do though. I know almost nothing about electricity and I'm by no means handy. I 'd really like as close to a plug and play solution as possible. Or I need to find someone who'll tell me exactly what I need to do. I've tried reading the tutorials on this board and most of them go completely over my head. But I did just find the first one that makes sense to me: https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... lo_eng.pdf.

That's great, but I still have many questions. Here are some that I can think of:

* Do I just go out and buy any deep cycle battery of the right size (which in my case seems to be 62, since I'm planning on running it with a Resmed S9 Auto with humidifier)? If not, what do I need to look for in a battery?

* The tutorial says that marine batteries aren't truly deep cycle batteries, so should I avoid marine batteries?

* I've watched videos where it seem like people have rigged up some kind of carrying box for the battery. What can I get that would provide a handle and protection for the battery?

* What kind of adapter do I need to provide the plug for the DC converter? The guide says to consult the battery manufacturer.

* How do I recharge the battery, assuming that I'll be without power for several days? Can I use solar? Do I need to use my car? What are the specifics I need to set up (remember, I know nothing about electricity, so actual, specific things I need to buy, plug in, etc.)

* Are there any other safety precautions, wiring or whatever that I need to know about and/or buy?

* Is there an easier plug-and-play solution I can just buy and use? Are tehre any advantages to that (besides saving me the headache of trying to figure out how to build my own)?

There are probably more questions that I'm not even thinking of right now. I'm wondering if there is a kind of person on this forum who's built their own battery (or bought one that they like) who can walk me exactly through what I need to do.

Thanks in advance.

[Lifeisabeach]

There's a thread dedicated to batteries. The general consensus is to use a deep cycle battery with a DC adapter to get the most out of it. There are lithium ion battery alternatives that you can't beat for portability as an option. I have an Anker PowerHouse for example, but Goal Zero has a variety of capacities and are very popular with campers. I personally, for camping, would look at the Goal Zero's lithium ion line for that purpose. A deep cycle battery will be cumbersome to lug around in comparison. The convenient thing about those is they have a DC port built right in, so just get an appropriate DC adapter for your model CPAP machine and call it a day.

For recharging, Goal Zero has solar panels available, although I doubt these are viable if you are facing days with heavy smoke. You can also use generators to recharge the batteries. I personally would stick to using an inverter generator on a lithium ion battery since they are safer for more sensitive electronics. This Baja Propane Inverter Generator is an inexpensive option as far as this type of generator goes.

Be aware that if you insist on using a humidifier, that will greatly affect the battery drain. Consider turning it off to conserve battery power.

For a homemade solution, take a look at this discussion:
viewtopic/t176763/Homemade-Resmed-A10-c ... ttery.html

[ClayL]

It might be worth checking out the site below. It is intended for RVers but has info pertaining to some of your questions and is not overly technical.
http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

[palerider]

Let me know if there are questions you still have after looking at this:

viewtopic.php?p=1129137#p1129137

*ALL* of the light, portable lithium battery packs are hideously expensive for the watthours you get out of them.

[bwexler]

First a brief battery discussion.
I setup a 12 volt AGM 110 Amp hour battery to use while van camping.
I used my Phillips Resperonics one ASV 960 with humidifier. One night went fine,
But the second night the battery only lasted a few hours.The battery I used weighed about 68 pounds.
So a 62 battery, I assume this means 62 amp hours. Unless this is a Lithium Ion battery it may not last one night with humidifier.

So if I were setting this up (I live in So Cal) I would want 2 Deep Cycle AGM 110 Amp Hour batteries.
I would want a generator that would power a battery charger and might also provide power for my refrigerator and furnace.
And, yes those batteries would weigh about 68 pounds each. No I could probably not use this setup for camping.

[jpek]

It might be worth checking out the site below. It is intended for RVers but has info pertaining to some of your questions and is not overly technical.
http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

That was somewhat educational, but my main take-away is that I really SHOULDN'T be messing with batteries on my own, since I really DON'T know what I'm doing and it can be dangerous. Which makes me want to hire or recruit someone to help me with it even more .

[jpek]

There's a thread dedicated to batteries.

Yes, I know. I've tried to tackle it before, but it quickly gets overwhelming for a beginner who knows next to nothing about electricity and isn't very handy. Plus, lately, I've started realizing that trying to modify or play with a battery is actually dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

The general consensus is to use a deep cycle battery with a DC adapter to get the most out of it. There are lithium ion battery alternatives that you can't beat for portability as an option. I have an Anker PowerHouse for example, but Goal Zero has a variety of capacities and are very popular with campers. I personally, for camping, would look at the Goal Zero's lithium ion line for that purpose. A deep cycle battery will be cumbersome to lug around in comparison.

Thanks. I looked at Goal Zero and Anker. I see what you mean about hideously expensive. Does the brand name matter? If I can find a cheaper one NOT by one of those companies, is it worth buying? How else can they be charged? I'm a little nervous about buying a generator as it will require me to store propane or gas. Can all of them be charged via solar panels? Are there instructions on how to set that up? I know that they can also be charged from a car battery, but how long does that take and does the car need to be running?

The convenient thing about those is they have a DC port built right in, so just get an appropriate DC adapter for your model CPAP machine and call it a day.

Are you referring to the lithium or the deep cycle batteries?

Be aware that if you insist on using a humidifier, that will greatly affect the battery drain. Consider turning it off to conserve battery power.

Yes, I'm aware, but I don't see a choice. Using pretty high humidification is the only way I can tolerate sleeping with my mask. Otherwise it really dries out and irritates the inside of my nose.

For a homemade solution, take a look at this discussion:
viewtopic/t176763/Homemade-Resmed-A10-c ... ttery.html

This is way, way above my level. This is for battery geeks. I have no idea what they're talking about. But I did get the link to the above tutorial (see my initial message) from that page.

[jpek]

Let me know if there are questions you still have after looking at this:

viewtopic.php?p=1129137#p1129137

*ALL* of the light, portable lithium battery packs are hideously expensive for the watthours you get out of them.

Unfortunately, this post is over my head. I don't understand it enough to ask specific questions. I know CapnLoki has put a lot of time and effort into writing these tutorials but they're not written for beginners who don't know electrical terms, don't know how to bolt whatever to whatever, don't understand a lot of the acronyms.

[Lifeisabeach]

There's a thread dedicated to batteries.

Yes, I know. I've tried to tackle it before, but it quickly gets overwhelming for a beginner who knows next to nothing about electricity and isn't very handy. Plus, lately, I've started realizing that trying to modify or play with a battery is actually dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

True that, which is why I didn't blow off replying entirely.

The general consensus is to use a deep cycle battery with a DC adapter to get the most out of it. There are lithium ion battery alternatives that you can't beat for portability as an option. I have an Anker PowerHouse for example, but Goal Zero has a variety of capacities and are very popular with campers. I personally, for camping, would look at the Goal Zero's lithium ion line for that purpose. A deep cycle battery will be cumbersome to lug around in comparison.

Thanks. I looked at Goal Zero and Anker. I see what you mean about hideously expensive. Does the brand name matter? If I can find a cheaper one NOT by one of those companies, is it worth buying? How else can they be charged? I'm a little nervous about buying a generator as it will require me to store propane or gas. Can all of them be charged via solar panels? Are there instructions on how to set that up? I know that they can also be charged from a car battery, but how long does that take and does the car need to be running?

There are other brands, so just shop around. These are just the two I'm familiar with. I know the category is exploding with options these days. Just shop around and check reviews carefully. As for solar charging, you'll have to check on compatibility. This isn't something I have hands-on experience with, but from my reading, technically you can charge anything by solar if you have the right plug and incoming voltage for it. My Anker "can" be charged by a solar panel, but the one Anker makes that is suitable for this one isn't sold in the US and the power port for charging isn't compatible with other brands.

Charging a battery off a battery would be... uh... a bit silly. You'd be wasting energy in that transfer and still have to recharge the car battery using your car's fuel. You'd also be beating up your car battery and reducing its life. This would be just crazy wasteful. I'm not even sure it's a safe way to do it. Just get a generator and call it a day. Propane is safer to store and easier to manage than gasoline, although the tanks can be heavy to lug. Here's a guide on how to charge a deep cycle battery off a generator. Be aware that you'll need a battery charger that goes in between the generator and the battery itself. The battery guide thread here mentions Battery Tender as an example.
How to Charge a Deep Cycle Battery From a Generator

The convenient thing about those is they have a DC port built right in, so just get an appropriate DC adapter for your model CPAP machine and call it a day.

Are you referring to the lithium or the deep cycle batteries?

The lithium ion ones. I have no personal experience with the deep cycle batteries, although I am looking into them for when I put a new shed up since I plan to just use a solar charger for my limited power needs in there. Anyway, deep cycle batteries are lead acid just like car batteries are and look largely just like them and have similar terminals. To use a CPAP machine, you need a DC adapter that clamps onto the terminals. So something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Cigarett ... 86&sr=8-12

Just clamp that on to the battery terminal like you would with jump starter cables on a car battery. Then plug the power supply for your CPAP machine into the DC port on that adapter. You can't use the 120 volt one that came with your machine that plugs into the wall outlet. You need a power supply like this:
https://www.thecpapshop.com/shielded-dc ... ter-socket

Be aware that if you insist on using a humidifier, that will greatly affect the battery drain. Consider turning it off to conserve battery power.

Yes, I'm aware, but I don't see a choice. Using pretty high humidification is the only way I can tolerate sleeping with my mask. Otherwise it really dries out and irritates the inside of my nose.

Understandable. You gotta do what you gotta do. I imagine it helps in smoky conditions also.

For a homemade solution, take a look at this discussion:
viewtopic/t176763/Homemade-Resmed-A10-c ... ttery.html

This is way, way above my level. This is for battery geeks. I have no idea what they're talking about. But I did get the link to the above tutorial (see my initial message) from that page.

Same here. Major respect for those with the know-how to do that, but it's above my pay grade!

[Dog Slobber]

Here's a YouTube tutorial for making a Battery Box suitable for CPAP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tf3fngKA-c

[Janknitz]

I bought a portable battery generator meant for camping. I can plug my machine into it directly and it works--it has both AC and DC outputs. It is recharged by plugging in, or by the car battery, and I plan to get a solar panel to recharge it (but that involves alligator clips ). Mine only lasts one night, but my office is on a hospital grid so they kept the electricity on during the blackouts last summer. They make bigger ones that last several days.

I just don't have the brain power to figure out all the things you have to do to hook up to a battery. This seemed safer and easier to me--now the experts can disagree, but I'm pleased with this option.

[jpek]

I bought a portable battery generator meant for camping. I can plug my machine into it directly and it works--it has both AC and DC outputs. It is recharged by plugging in, or by the car battery, and I plan to get a solar panel to recharge it (but that involves alligator clips ). Mine only lasts one night, but my office is on a hospital grid so they kept the electricity on during the blackouts last summer. They make bigger ones that last several days.

I just don't have the brain power to figure out all the things you have to do to hook up to a battery. This seemed safer and easier to me--now the experts can disagree, but I'm pleased with this option.

What generator did you buy?

[Janknitz]

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T4 ... UTF8&psc=1

[palerider]

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T4 ... UTF8&psc=1

The problem is that that's only 151Wh. a scooter battery is over 400Wh.

[Janknitz]

This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T4 ... UTF8&psc=1

The problem is that that's only 151Wh. a scooter battery is over 400Wh.

True, it only works for 1 night, without the humidifier at that. There are more robust ones, but they cost more.
Since this was specifically for planned outages and I knew I could recharge during the day at my office, it was OK. But when "the Big One" comes and nobody has electricity, I would be SOL unless I drove around long enough to charge it with my car battery (not likely). So that's why I need to either get a bigger one or enough solar panel to charge it during the day. In retrospect I should have bought a bigger one to begin with, but that fit my budget at the time.