Camping without amenities (electricity)

BenQ · Post by **BenQ** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 8:37 am

Hey Everyone! This is my first post on these forums, and everything I've read so far has been really helpful.

I've been a CPAP user for 2 years now, and I'm using a ResMed AirSense10 set to an air pressure setting of 17.

I'm searching for information on camping without the possibility of plugging my kit directly into an outlet! I now ResMed sells a powerpack, but that thing is really expensive and not covered by insurance. So I'm looking for information about deep-cycle batteries (boat batteries) and converters. I'm aware that it is best to use the appropriate 12v converter, so I simply purchased the one offered by ResMed...

I need info on the following:

1. How long will a deep-cycle batterie "last" while only supplying power to the CPAP machine, without using the humidifier?
2. What is the best/easiest way to recharge a deep-cycle battery?
3. Is it truly best to purchase a "same-brand" battery charger to leave plugged to the battery?

Thanks for any info you guys can provide!

knothead · Post by **knothead** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:27 am

Hello Ben

Just look in the search bar, there are numerous ideas on how to camp, what batteries to use and how long they last. Hope you find what u need...its there.

CapnLoki · Post by **CapnLoki** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:06 am

As noted there are many posts concerning these topics. But to get you started...
Usage will be about 7 to 8 amp-hours a night, a big deep cycle has about 100 but you draining below 50% creases
50% decreases life. So figure 50 to 80 amp-hours or about 5 to 8 nights.
I love Battery tender chargers for long term maintenance but you probably want something bigger for a large battery. Look for about 25 amps, 4 stage.
I don't know any "same brand" chargers. Only use low power trickle charger for long term maintenance.

CapnLoki · Post by **CapnLoki** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:09 am

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bill-e · Post by **bill-e** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:32 pm

Tent or RV camping? A flooded deep cycle battery is pretty heavy to lug around. There's a thread here somewhere which discusses a $100 lithium battery, it and a small solar panel would get you through many nights.

Search Amazon for the Poweradd Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage Portable Charger External Battery Pack

bill-e · Post by **bill-e** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:37 pm

My Z1 Auto at 14-20 pressure would get about 6 nights on that battery with a little to spare.

BenQ · Post by **BenQ** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:55 pm

bill-e wrote:Tent or RV camping? A flooded deep cycle battery is pretty heavy to lug around. There's a thread here somewhere which discusses a $100 lithium battery, it and a small solar panel would get you through many nights.

Search Amazon for the Poweradd Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage Portable Charger External Battery Pack

It's definitely Tent camping, with the car usually close by so lugging around a deep-cycle marine battery shouldn'T be an issue. But thank you for the lithium battery suggestion. I'll look into it's power capabilities and requirements, since it seems to be a cheaper alternative to the marine battery...

BenQ · Post by **BenQ** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:56 pm

CapnLoki wrote:As noted there are many posts concerning these topics. But to get you started...
Usage will be about 7 to 8 amp-hours a night, a big deep cycle has about 100 but you draining below 50% creases
50% decreases life. So figure 50 to 80 amp-hours or about 5 to 8 nights.
I love Battery tender chargers for long term maintenance but you probably want something bigger for a large battery. Look for about 25 amps, 4 stage.
I don't know any "same brand" chargers. Only use low power trickle charger for long term maintenance.

Thanks for the specifications, greatly appreciated! I'll keep looking in all the other threads as well!

CapnLoki · Post by **CapnLoki** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 3:51 pm

BenQ wrote:
bill-e wrote:Tent or RV camping? A flooded deep cycle battery is pretty heavy to lug around. There's a thread here somewhere which discusses a $100 lithium battery, it and a small solar panel would get you through many nights.

Search Amazon for the Poweradd Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage Portable Charger External Battery Pack
It's definitely Tent camping, with the car usually close by so lugging around a deep-cycle marine battery shouldn'T be an issue. But thank you for the lithium battery suggestion. I'll look into it's power capabilities and requirements, since it seems to be a cheaper alternative to the marine battery...

The "32000 milli amp hours" is measured at 3.7 volts so it's about 10ah at 12 volts. Definitely not cheaper than lead-acid.

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BenQ · Post by **BenQ** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 3:55 pm

CapnLoki wrote:
BenQ wrote:
bill-e wrote:Tent or RV camping? A flooded deep cycle battery is pretty heavy to lug around. There's a thread here somewhere which discusses a $100 lithium battery, it and a small solar panel would get you through many nights.

Search Amazon for the Poweradd Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage Portable Charger External Battery Pack
It's definitely Tent camping, with the car usually close by so lugging around a deep-cycle marine battery shouldn'T be an issue. But thank you for the lithium battery suggestion. I'll look into it's power capabilities and requirements, since it seems to be a cheaper alternative to the marine battery...
The "32000 milli amp hours" is measured at 3.7 volts so it's about 10ah at 12 volts. Definitely not cheaper than lead-acid.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Sorry, I meant cheaper financially, in that the lithium battery was cheaper than the marine Batteries I've seen!

CapnLoki · Post by **CapnLoki** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 4:25 pm

BenQ wrote:
CapnLoki wrote:
BenQ wrote:
bill-e wrote:Tent or RV camping? A flooded deep cycle battery is pretty heavy to lug around. There's a thread here somewhere which discusses a $100 lithium battery, it and a small solar panel would get you through many nights.

Search Amazon for the Poweradd Pilot Pro 32000mAh Monster Capacity Multi-Voltage Portable Charger External Battery Pack
It's definitely Tent camping, with the car usually close by so lugging around a deep-cycle marine battery shouldn'T be an issue. But thank you for the lithium battery suggestion. I'll look into it's power capabilities and requirements, since it seems to be a cheaper alternative to the marine battery...
The "32000 milli amp hours" is measured at 3.7 volts so it's about 10ah at 12 volts. Definitely not cheaper than lead-acid.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Sorry, I meant cheaper financially, in that the lithium battery was cheaper than the marine Batteries I've seen!

"marine batteries" are a myth. What you want is a "deep cycle. " The marine label doubles the price and you still have to make sure it's deep cycle because there are marine starting batteries. If you want cheap go to Walmart, but for inexpensive quality, look for an AGM from Amazon - 35ah for $65, 100ah for $160.

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Randy in Maine · Post by **Randy in Maine** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 4:58 pm

I posted this over on another thread, but I can get my post count up by posting here also.

I bought this battery box for about $65...

https://www.amazon.com/Newport-Vessels- ... B01AE2TG7G

and I will put in a deep cycle marine battery battery from Walmart or Cosco or sometplace like that for about $100. I will put the biggest battery that will fit in it like a 27 or 24 series.

And this gizmo for my ResMed Auto 10 machine. $85 http://www.thecpapshop.com/dc-power-con ... -10-series. That will let me plug the cpap right into the cig lighter outlet on the battery box. My cpap is only 90 watts. 12 volts x 8 amps = 96 watts.

I figure I can use it in my VW Camperbus, the pop up tent camper trailer, or even when the power goes out at home for a few days. I have a conventional battery charger and a "marine battery tender". Usually when I am out camping I still end up with someplace with power every few days. I am hoping to get at least 3 days if I don't use the cpap humidifier.

I will post back after I have used it for a few days at home to see what kind of life it has.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:16 pm

Randy in Maine wrote:I posted this over on another thread, but I can get my post count up by posting here also.

I bought this battery box for about $65...

https://www.amazon.com/Newport-Vessels- ... B01AE2TG7G

are you trolling us?

Randy in Maine wrote:My cpap is only 90 watts.

actually, your power supply is max 90 watts, the cpap doesn't pull anywhere near that, as you'll find out if you read more of the huge number of posts on the forum on this subject. happy reading.

Randy in Maine · Post by **Randy in Maine** » Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:28 pm

Well I just got back from Campobello Island using my machine plugged into my serious marine battery for 3 days. Everything worked just as it should and I really slept well. I am very pleased.

Camping without amenities (electricity)

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