What do you do when the power goes off?

[RiverDave]

needingu,

An inverter is a device the converts (in this case) 12V direct current power (a car or marine battery) to 110V alternating current (US household).

The engineers here on the board will let you know which type of inverter you need (modified sine waveform or pure sine waveform - I don't know if it really makes a difference, anyway), and prices can range from $40 to $175 depending on which type you get.

A marine battery (typically used in boats, hence the name) is basically a hardier version of a car battery.

The manufacturer of your machine probably sells a cable that will allow you to bypass the inverter and run straight from a battery.

If you do go with the marine battery, I would strongly urge you to get a gel cell - they are leakproof. You will pay between $60 and $110 for a marine battery.

You may also want to search the forum for threads regarding camping and xPAP - there are many options and all are explored "ad nauseum"

[LyleHaze]

@ needingu
OK, some new vocabulary..
A "Marine" or "Deep Cycle" battery looks like a car battery, but it's designed to tolerate deep discharges/recharges without damage (hence the name "Deep Cycle").
Your BiPap machine can run directly off of one of these batteries, and depending ont he battety size and your pressure settings, it may last a few nights.
HOWEVER..
your humidifier will NOT run on a battery. It's designed for AC voltage. If you want to run your humidifier off a battery, you need a device that will take 12 volts DC from a battery and convert it to 120 volts AC for your humidifier. This would be an "inverter". You will also need a lot more battery power available.

The smallest, probably least expensive inverters would probably be the UPS devices that people buy for their computers. Handy and fairly inexpensive, but not to run all night. These are best for 20 minutes at a time, not for all night/multiple night outages.

To proceed you'll need to ask yourself a few questions: How often is the power out? How long is it usually out for? Can I get by for these times without a heated humidifier?

Easiest way out: Buy a big computer UPS. Spend money, but only good enough for short outages.
Cheapest way out: Get a DC power cord, a deep cycle battery, and a charger for it. Good for multiple nights, but without humidification. Also you have to "switch over" manually.

I hope this helped somewhat.

LyleHaze

[billbolton]

but I also have a car jumper in the bedroom with a 12 volt lighter outlet

I recently found a local source for one of these jump start units (in the Mitre-10 Father's Day catalogue at A$59.95 for anyone in Oz), so have also set one up as CPAP backup power. It has a 12 AH gell cel lead acid battery with capacity that is more than enough to comfortably run my Resmed S8 overnight without fully discharging the battery.

The neat thing about is that it comes "prepackaged" with charger etc, so its easy to put in the bedroom closet and check every month to make sure its charged up.... there was no need to assemble anything to get a workable solution.

I know from previous expereince that if we have more than one night of power outage I'll have more serious problems to solve than just running my CPAP machine, so one night is probably enough.

In the 25 years or so we have lived in our present location in suburban Sydney, we have only had one serious multi-day power outage, and that was when a "once in living memory" mini-whirlwind ripped along the high ridge (aka storm-track) we live on and destroyed a lot of infrastructure in several suburbs.

Otherwise its just a very occasional outage for an hour or two when a tree comes down across a power line, or whatever.

Cheers,

Bill

[goose]

The Basics:
For the M series check out the 12V DC power cord

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -cord.html

which connects the CPAP machine to a cigarette lighter. For the battery adapter cable (battery connect with cigarette lighter connector)

http://wwww.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... cable.html

or you can get the cigarette lighter to battery connector at any auto supply or RV supply outlet. cpap.com also has similar adapters for the other manufacturers.....

If you absolutely need the humidifier you'll need some sort of inverter setup as it doesn't run directly off of 12V (as far as I know - haven't looked at a schematic).
I have an old UPS which supplies the inverter function and some battery, but I really don't need the humidifier on a temporary basis and the UPS needs new batteries.

I also have a generator (3.5KW) to run a few essential items when necessary -- Vader's system is overkill for me, but would be totally cool to have!!!
I'd use the generator to charge the deep cycle battery -- the CPAP machine should run at least a couple nights on a Marine Deep Cycle battery.

Since Fall is coming, I guess I should to get off my butt and set something up for winter -- generally when we lose power it's for a day or three at a time -- we're at the end of the line, so we're always last to be repaired/restored.

There are numerous different ways to deal with the problem.

cheers
goose

[bdp522]

I purchased the Polarist TR/Evo Everest2 from cpap.com for power outages and travel. I have used it for both. It works Great. I use the HH with it. Using the HH I get 1 night, without the HH I get 2 nights of just over 6 hours each at a pressure of 9. I leave the machine setup right next to my Tank Auto. If the power goes out unexpectedly, I just switch the hose to the Everest and I'm good to go. If we are getting a bad storm and I know the power will probably go out, I just hook up to the Everest before going to bed. It will switch from house current to battery automatically and switch back(and trickle charge the battery) when the power comes back on. We have a small Honda generator that will recharge the unit for long outages. I can also bring the unit to the local Fire Dept, Police Dept, or hospital to get the battery recharged if needed. For me this is the perfect solution for travel, power outages, and backup if something happens to my "tank'.

Brenda

[needingu]

I guess the one thing I need to get clear in my mind is the humidifier. It is attached to the front of the cpap (Res. Auto.. Bipap. Biflex) 15/11 pressure. It seems the air is pressured over the water in the humidifier. (I do not turn on the heat in the summer but do in the winter for humidification) So...the heat from the plate underneath is heated by a different method than the pressure air. Right?. I'm sorry this is a NEW territory for me..I can turn the key to start the car..but.. I don't know why it works..
That battery sounds best for my needs. A generator is big.Right? and where would I put it in the bedroom.. Hmmm Got some thinking to do.
I've always considered myself as fairly inteligent.
Thanks

[needingu]

(I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GO THERE FIRST BUT,,, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS (always try to invent the wheel again
)
I just now read and reread the link in CPAP FAQ..camping, power outages , batteries....there is a world of info there. Thanks to RESTED GAS..I have a better understand (with all of your help)of the terms and capablities needed. Thanks to everyone ..

[Vader]

A generator is big.Right?

YES...a generator is BIG!

To make myself clear here, I wasn't suggesting that you get one, but merely letting you know what works for me.
I bought mine based on the overall risk of consequences resulting from power outages. I don't think many folks would buy one based solely on a need to power an xpap machine, because there are so many other cheaper alternatives.

[Guest]

One thing not yet mentioned..
If you're using a car battery or a deep cycle marine battery,
you should consider setting the battery up outside, or at least not in your bedroom. These batteries (lead-acid and probably gel-cell too) emit some nasty gases when they are charging and recharging. Not something you'd like to make a permanent place in your bedroom for.

I'm not an expert, but I think it's worth further research, at least.

[Jeanie821]

My father is also my landlord. After the blackout of 2003, he decided to have an emergency generator installed. The genny taps into our natural gas line and starts within ten seconds of the power going out. It's quite noisy, so I know that would wake me up long enough to turn the CPAP back on.

[Vader]

Thanks to RESTED GAS..

Sometimes I find Rested Gas to be an annoyance.....




(sorry, I know it was a typo, but I couldn't resist!)

[goose]

Guest/LyleHaze makes a very good point.
Do not charge your battery in the bedroom. If memory serves me, the byproduct of charging is hydrogen gas -- though it is natural in our atmosphere I don't think it's something I want in the bedroom!!
Not sure if gel cells off gas the same way -- I'll have to do more research.

Vader is correct -- generators are large for the most part (there are some that are the size of a large lunch box, but.....) and most won't want to purchase a generator just for CPAP.....

Again, there are many options to deal with the problem. Just takes research and decision on which works best for your individual situation.

good luck
cheers
goose

[RiverDave]

Very good point LyleHaze and Goose! Gel cells (and other lead acid batteries) do offgas hydrogen when they are being charged. Never charge a lead acid battery indoors or enclosed spaces without proper ventilation - it's not a matter of poisoning, it's explosive at the right concentrations.

[Cliff]

I just purchased the respironics battery backup.....it is small and travels well. I like the matching carrying case. It is a little heavy but not as heavy as a marine battery.

Cliff

[goose]

Hey Cliff,
If you know yet, how long does the backup system operate?? How is it charged?? Did you get it from cpap.com??

thanks
cheers
goose