I was thinking, in bed, last night. . IF the power goes out and the CPAP stops, will I just wake up? Does your body start mouth breating automatically? You could not get enough oxygen through the hose if it were not blowing, the hose is too long. Is there a one way valve that kicks in. What is the scoop on this?
What happens if the power goes out?
You need to list your equiptment in your profile, we can't see what you have, answers depend of what you use. A FF Mask has a valve that lets air in but it better if you wake up, or have a power backup. Mine is on a computer UPS APC 1250 NS., its good for 15 minutes if I leave the computers on, more if they are off. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
-
puffing billy
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:08 pm
Scota- I actually experienced this the other night! Our neighborhood had a power failure for about 15 minutes. I don't know how many seconds passed before I woke up, however, I shot up in bed and instinctively ripped off the mask, so that I could breathe! Everything was dark so I knew right away what had happened. However, it was quite startling. I have left a message for my equipment provider regarding the possibility of a battery backup.
I'll keep you posted when I hear back from them.
I'll keep you posted when I hear back from them.
-
brasshopper
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:26 pm
- Contact:
I was about to say,
...that your UPS alarm wakes you up and you wake up, but the real question is, what do you do then. IMHO, the right answer is, "once the UPS fails, you get up."
Think of it this way. You have sleep disturbances, sometimes as often as more than once per minute, because your brain wakes you up as you run out of O2 or maybe can't eliminate CO2.
You wake up a little, and you tense your throat and get more O2 - this is why it is the wrong thing to do to go back to sleep. What good does it do you to wake up so often?
So, you think that if you are not getting O2 because you are hose breathing that you won't wake up? Chances are you will - else, frankly, CPAP would be too dangerous to use and there would be CPAP deaths on a daily basis. But there aren't - only deaths because people don't use CPAP.
Think of it this way. You have sleep disturbances, sometimes as often as more than once per minute, because your brain wakes you up as you run out of O2 or maybe can't eliminate CO2.
You wake up a little, and you tense your throat and get more O2 - this is why it is the wrong thing to do to go back to sleep. What good does it do you to wake up so often?
So, you think that if you are not getting O2 because you are hose breathing that you won't wake up? Chances are you will - else, frankly, CPAP would be too dangerous to use and there would be CPAP deaths on a daily basis. But there aren't - only deaths because people don't use CPAP.
-
WallyGator
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 12:56 am
My machine quit on me once during a power failure while wearing a Mirage Vista mask and it was fairly rough. I didn't wake up right away and when I did, I was gasping hard for air and my heart was pounding. Certainly got my attention so that same day I went to Sam's Club and got an APC Back-UPS Pro 1100 computer battery unit they had for around $125.
That APC unit is now around 4 years old but still working well. A few nights ago my power went out for an hour but the machine kept running, so I didn't know it until I woke up a few hours later. Normally the UPS alarm beeps would have woken me up which is a safer scenario in case the battery runs down all the way, however I had earplugs in and didn't hear them.
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, Power
That APC unit is now around 4 years old but still working well. A few nights ago my power went out for an hour but the machine kept running, so I didn't know it until I woke up a few hours later. Normally the UPS alarm beeps would have woken me up which is a safer scenario in case the battery runs down all the way, however I had earplugs in and didn't hear them.
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, Power
I am also very interested in battery backup. However when I go to a store to look, I can't tell which I should get.
Wally, could you post any more information on that APC Backup Pro 1100 that you have? In case you have had it a while could you give the specs in case there are new models that replaced the one you listed? Any idea how long it would go if just he APAP were attached?
I would rather go with one that someone else has tested.this unit? I have a Remstar Auto. Can I just plug it in the battery backup or do I need an adapter for it? I don't want to damage the APAP.
I have a Sam's club right down the road!
Thanks
Wally, could you post any more information on that APC Backup Pro 1100 that you have? In case you have had it a while could you give the specs in case there are new models that replaced the one you listed? Any idea how long it would go if just he APAP were attached?
I would rather go with one that someone else has tested.this unit? I have a Remstar Auto. Can I just plug it in the battery backup or do I need an adapter for it? I don't want to damage the APAP.
I have a Sam's club right down the road!
Thanks
I just heard back from my equipment provider. She told me to go to Walmart or Napa Auto Parts and purchase: Deep Cycle Marine Battery--
200 cycles. She said that higher cycles will be loud. She said this should work even if I switch machines later. I'll look into it this week. I will probably bring my machine with me so they can help me figure out how to connect it to the Cpap machine.
200 cycles. She said that higher cycles will be loud. She said this should work even if I switch machines later. I'll look into it this week. I will probably bring my machine with me so they can help me figure out how to connect it to the Cpap machine.
Guys who have these, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't "Deep Cycle Marine Batteries" alternatives to the house current? Not something that you can wire in to kick in when the power fails in the middle of the night?
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Power
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Power
Last edited by snoregirl on Wed May 31, 2006 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Equipment providers will not (except in rare cases) provide a battery backup for a CPAP machine.
The best option would be to get a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) from any computer or electronics store. There really is not much to them. The more expensive ones will start providing longer usable battery life (Lower cost UPS have maybe 15 minutes up to several hours for very expensive units). More expensive units will also provide other features that may or may not be important such as surge protection and line conditioning (regulating the voltage coming from the oulet).
A UPS is nothing more than a battery designed to run 1 or 2 units on AC for a short time while the power is out. They often look like beefed-up power strips or sometimes small boxes. They charge the battery constantly while plugged in and then automatically switch to the battery when the power goes out. Most except for the least expensive units will also sound an audible alarm when the power is out.
Expect to pay ~$100.00 for a decent UPS.
The second option would be Marine Batteries. Depending on your unit, this can get rather expensive.
For this option I would STRONGLY urge you to take your unit to the store when you purchase the battery AND take both battery and unit to a store such as Radio Shack for any adaptors you may need!! Failure to do so may result in your unit being damaged or destroyed!!
If your unit accepts a straight DC input, you may be able to hook it up to the battery using the proper adaptors. Part of the will depend upon the voltage expected by your unit.
If your unit does not accept 12vDC input, you will need to also purchase a DC Inverter. These can be VERY expensive. The specific type of inverter you would need will vary based on your unit. It is CRITICAL to match the output of your inverter to the unit. Failure to do so will result in the machine not working at best. Usually it will result in the machine being damaged. Worst case it will actually destroy your machine. If you choose to go this route, I urge you to take the battery and your unit to Radio Shack to be setup with the proper inverter.
Expect to pay $85-$150.00 for a good Marine Battery. Also expect to pay around $100.00 for a decent inverter capable of handling most xPAP power needs.
I hope this helps!
Bingo
The best option would be to get a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) from any computer or electronics store. There really is not much to them. The more expensive ones will start providing longer usable battery life (Lower cost UPS have maybe 15 minutes up to several hours for very expensive units). More expensive units will also provide other features that may or may not be important such as surge protection and line conditioning (regulating the voltage coming from the oulet).
A UPS is nothing more than a battery designed to run 1 or 2 units on AC for a short time while the power is out. They often look like beefed-up power strips or sometimes small boxes. They charge the battery constantly while plugged in and then automatically switch to the battery when the power goes out. Most except for the least expensive units will also sound an audible alarm when the power is out.
Expect to pay ~$100.00 for a decent UPS.
The second option would be Marine Batteries. Depending on your unit, this can get rather expensive.
For this option I would STRONGLY urge you to take your unit to the store when you purchase the battery AND take both battery and unit to a store such as Radio Shack for any adaptors you may need!! Failure to do so may result in your unit being damaged or destroyed!!
If your unit accepts a straight DC input, you may be able to hook it up to the battery using the proper adaptors. Part of the will depend upon the voltage expected by your unit.
If your unit does not accept 12vDC input, you will need to also purchase a DC Inverter. These can be VERY expensive. The specific type of inverter you would need will vary based on your unit. It is CRITICAL to match the output of your inverter to the unit. Failure to do so will result in the machine not working at best. Usually it will result in the machine being damaged. Worst case it will actually destroy your machine. If you choose to go this route, I urge you to take the battery and your unit to Radio Shack to be setup with the proper inverter.
Expect to pay $85-$150.00 for a good Marine Battery. Also expect to pay around $100.00 for a decent inverter capable of handling most xPAP power needs.
I hope this helps!
Bingo
Power out
You can either operate off of a sealed lead acid battery or get a UPS unit.
Battery- get a deep cycle one for longer life and use it every night. This assumes your cpap/apap has a direct 12v input jack. Get one rated 12V and maybe 20 ampere-hours or more. Also get a plug-in charger. Charge the battery each day. My Respironics APAP when set for 8-10 cm-H20 averages 1.5 amp @ 12v. If you sleep 8 hours, that's 12 ampere-hours, so you will use a little over 1/2 the full charge of a 20 amp-hr battery.
You will need to get the output rating for the UPS if you go that way. If you consider purchasing one from a knowlegable source, give them the 120V ac load for your cpap and tell them how many hours you want to maintain service in event of a power failure.
Battery- get a deep cycle one for longer life and use it every night. This assumes your cpap/apap has a direct 12v input jack. Get one rated 12V and maybe 20 ampere-hours or more. Also get a plug-in charger. Charge the battery each day. My Respironics APAP when set for 8-10 cm-H20 averages 1.5 amp @ 12v. If you sleep 8 hours, that's 12 ampere-hours, so you will use a little over 1/2 the full charge of a 20 amp-hr battery.
You will need to get the output rating for the UPS if you go that way. If you consider purchasing one from a knowlegable source, give them the 120V ac load for your cpap and tell them how many hours you want to maintain service in event of a power failure.
lights off
What happens when the electricity goes off?
Same as coffee maker and lights.
They go off
Same as coffee maker and lights.
They go off